President Donald Trump’s recent executive order turned the post-Christmas recession into an official extension of the holiday season, designating Friday, Dec. 26, as a federal holiday. While his directive effectively closed federal offices for a rare five-day weekend, the rest of the economy was on partial pause, leading to confusion over who exactly was back in business today.
The executive order signed by Trump last week shut down executive departments and agencies on Christmas Eve and today (December 26). However, unlike statutory holidays mandated by Congress, such as Christmas itself, this presidential order strictly applies to the executive branch of the federal government. It is not legally binding on the private sector, states or even independent federal entities such as the Postal Service.
“All executive departments and agencies of the federal government shall be closed on Wednesday, December 24, 2025, and Friday, December 26, 2025, the day before and the day after Christmas, respectively, and their employees shall not report to work,” the order said.
So, what does this mean for you? Assuming you’re running errands, managing finances, or even just visiting a local business today, here’s an overview of where to open and where to sit.
government agencies
The most immediate impact is on federal services. non-essential Federal offices are closed. This includes Social Security Administration field offices, passport agencies, and most administrative government buildings. If you do business with the IRS or need to visit a federal building, you’ll need to wait until Monday.
Mail and delivery services
Despite the federal shutdown, the U.S. Postal Service remains fully operational today. Because the Postal Service is an independent agency that is funded primarily by postage sales rather than tax appropriations, it would not be subject to a shutdown like other federal agencies. Mail delivery is back to normal and post office counters are open.
Private carriers are also back on the road:
-
fedex Operating as normal, standard pickup and delivery services are active.
-
ups Collection and delivery services have resumed after the Christmas break.
financial markets
Wall Street is open for business. The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq have resumed full trading today after shortening trading hours on Christmas Eve and being fully closed on Christmas Day. Traders are back at their desks looking forward to a full day of trading.
bank
The Fed is open and processing transactions, which means the backbone of the banking system is active. As a result, most commercial banks, including major chains like Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, are open for business today.
While some smaller community banks or credit unions may choose to follow the president’s lead and close, the vast majority of financial institutions are still operating during regular business hours.
retail and groceries
December 26 remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year for the private sector and is often referred to as “Boxing Day” in other Commonwealth countries. Major retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy are not only open, but they’re probably packed with customers returning goods and looking for post-holiday clearance deals. Supermarkets and pharmacies are also operating on standard schedules.
In short: If your paycheck comes from a federal executive agency, enjoy your days off. For everyone else – from postal workers to stockbrokers – a return to work is almost certain.
This story originally appeared on Fortune.com
