By Joe Davidson
President Obama, a.k.a. the boss-in-chief, decided to give federal employees a holiday present a little early. He issued an executive orderFriday giving them the day after Christmas off.
President Obama and the first family leave the stage at the 2014 National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony Thursday at the Ellipse near the White House. (Carolyn Kaster/AP)
“All executive branch departments and agencies of the Federal Government shall be closed and their employees excused from duty on Friday, December 26, 2014, the day after Christmas Day,” the order says. Exceptions may be made “for reasons of national security, defense, or other public need.”
There was no indication if Obama was swayed by an online White House petition urging him to make the day a holiday. The petition said:
“Federal Employees have dealt with pay freezes and furloughs over the past few years. Giving federal employees an extra holiday on Dec. 26th, 2014 would be a good gesture to improve morale of the federal workforce. Some bases are forcing their employees to take leave or LWOP because of base shut-downs on this day. This is also consistent with past practice. President Obama provided a full-day Monday Dec. 24, 2012 and a half-day off on Thursday, Dec. 24, 2009. President George W. Bush provided a half-day holiday on Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2002, as well as several full days off the day before or after Christmas: Tuesday, December 24, 2001, Thursday, December 26, 2003, Tuesday, December 24, 2007, and Thursday, December 26, 2008. We urge President Obama to issue an executive order.”
Happy holidays.
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