Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the

This executive order closes all executive branch departments and agencies on Friday, December 26, 2003, the day after Christmas, excusing federal employees from duty. Agency heads may exempt certain offices and employees for national security, defense, or other public need reasons. The closure is treated as a legal holiday for purposes of federal employee pay and leave.

Federal Register Open PDF 68 FR 69295

Impact dates

Dec 26, 2003
All executive departments and agencies closed; employees excused from duty

Key directives

All executive branch departments and agencies closed December 26, 2003
Employees excused from duty on December 26, 2003
Agency heads may determine exemptions for national security, defense, or other public need
December 26, 2003 treated as legal holiday for pay and leave purposes under 5 U.S.C. 5546 and 6103(b)

Who is ordered

heads of executive branch departments and agencies · various

Timeline

Immediate

EO signed December 9, 2003

Near term (90d)

All executive departments and agencies closed December 26, 2003
Agency heads must determine exemptions before December 26, 2003

Long term

—

Risks & tensions

Minimal operational tension: routine one-day holiday closure with standard exemption authority
Vague exemption criterion 'other public need' gives agency heads broad discretion, but this is typical for such orders