Planning your year ahead? Find the exact dates and days of all 11 US Federal Holidays in 2024. From New Year’s Day to Thanksgiving, plan your celebrations and breaks effortlessly!
Federal Holidays 2024: As the year is coming to an end, people will plan their holidays and time off for the next year. Whether you’re prepping for travel, scheduling work breaks, or simply looking forward to a day off, knowing when the next federal holiday falls is always helpful.
Every year observes 11 fixed Federal Holidays, offering a welcome respite from the daily grind and a chance to commemorate significant events, honour historical figures, and spend time with loved ones. These fixed holidays, as the name suggests, always fall on the same date regardless of the day of the week.
List of Official Federal Holidays 2024:
Here’s a comprehensive list of all the official federal holidays in the US for 2024, complete with their precise dates and days of the week:
| US Holiday Name | Day of Week | 2024 Observed Date |
| New Year’s Day (4 days) | Monday | January 1st, 2024 |
| Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. | Monday | January 15th, 2024 |
| Washington’s Birthday | Monday | February 19th, 2024 |
| Memorial Day | Monday | May 27th, 2024 |
| Juneteenth Independence Day | Wednesday | June 19th, 2024 |
| Independence Day | Thursday | July 4th, 2024 |
| Labor Day | Monday | September 2nd, 2024 |
| Columbus Day | Monday | October 14th, 2024 |
| Veterans Day | Monday | November 11th, 2024 |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday | November 28th, 2024 |
| Christmas Day | Wednesday | December 25th, 2024 |
The Federal Pay Organisation states: “There are eleven Federal Holidays recognized by the United States Government (5 U.S.C. 6103). On these days, all non-essential government employees are off work, and most government offices (including post offices) are closed.”
What Holidays Do Federal Employees Get Off?
Federal employees get all the 11 days off every year as it is established by law (5 U.S.C. 6103). This means they don’t have to work on those days and still receive their regular pay. However, several cases deserve further clarification:
Not all 11 days are automatic days off: While some holidays like New Year’s Day and Christmas Day typically result in closed offices and automatic absence for most employees, others, like Washington’s Birthday or Columbus Day, may fall on weekdays where the agency still operates. In these cases, employees often need to request leave using their available annual leave or sick leave if they want to take the day off.
Scheduling flexibility might exist: Some agencies allow for flexible scheduling arrangements, where employees can work different hours around the holiday to compensate for the day taken off or even choose to work the holiday and receive overtime pay.
Part-time and intermittent employees: This benefit isn’t always straightforward for part-time and intermittent employees. Their holiday leave depends on their specific work schedules and contracts. They might receive a prorated portion of the 11 paid holidays or have different options to accrue and use leave time.