Federal employees experienced a pay freeze for the past several years and the pay and benefits for the federal workforce have been under serious attack during the budget talks this year.
Giving federal employees an extra holiday on December 24th, 2013 would be a grand gesture to improve morale of the federal workforce.
This is also consistent with past practice. President Obama provided the holiday of Dec 24, 2012, and a half-day on Thursday, Dec 24, 2009. President George W. Bush provided a half-day holiday on Wed, Dec. 24, 2002, as well as several full days off the day before or after Christmas: Tues, Dec 24, 2001, Thur, Dec 26, 2003, Tues, Dec 24, 2007, and Thur, Dec 26, 2008.
We urge President Obama to issue an executive order on this issue.