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.

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