What are the public holidays in the USA?
In the United States, public holidays are mandated only for federal employees. There is no legal requirement for private sector employers to observe public holidays or provide time off. Employers have the discretion to decide which holidays, if any, they choose to recognize and provide time off for their employees.
Federal Public Holidays for 2025
Here are the federal public holidays for 2025:
Wednesday, January 1 – New Year's Day
Monday, January 20 – Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday, February 17 – Washington's Birthday
Monday, May 26 – Memorial Day
Thursday, June 19 – Juneteenth National Independence Day
Friday, July 4 – Independence Day
Monday, September 1 – Labor Day
Monday, October 13 – Columbus Day
Tuesday, November 11 – Veterans Day
Thursday, November 27 – Thanksgiving Day
Thursday, December 25 – Christmas Day
Commonly Observed Holidays
While not legally required, many businesses choose to observe the following common holidays and provide Paid Time Off (PTO) for their employees:
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving (Black Friday)
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Employer Discretion
Employers have full discretion to determine which holidays they observe and whether to provide time off or holiday pay. This allows companies to tailor their holiday policies to fit their business needs and the preferences of their workforce.
Was this article helpful?
That’s Great!
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry! We couldn't be helpful
Thank you for your feedback
Feedback sent
We appreciate your effort and will try to fix the article