2022 and 2023 federal holidays

There are 11 federal holidays in 2023. Federal law [5 U.S.C. 6103] establishes the public holidays listed below for federal employees as paid vacation days.

Most federal employees work on a Monday through Friday schedule, so for these employees, if a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, it is usually observed on Monday [when the holiday is on a Sunday] or Friday [if the holiday falls on Saturday].

*If a holiday falls on a Saturday, for most Federal employees, the preceding Friday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. [See 5 U.S.C. 6103[b].] If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for most Federal employees, the following Monday will be treated as a holiday for pay and leave purposes. [See Section 3[a] of Executive Order 11582, February 11, 1971.] See also our Federal Holidays – “In Lieu Of” Determination Fact Sheet at //www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/work-schedules/fact-sheets/Federal-Holidays-In-Lieu-Of-Determination.

**This holiday is designated as “Washington’s Birthday” in section 6103[a] of title 5 of the United States Code, which is the law that specifies holidays for Federal employees. Though other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names, it is our policy to always refer to holidays by the names designated in the law.

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About the Author

Ian Smith is one of the co-founders of FedSmith.com. He enjoys writing about current topics that affect the federal workforce.