Remaining federal holidays in 2025- here's how you can maximize your time off

Many people are already looking forward to the next long weekend as summer comes to an end and September begins. There are only a few breaks each year that are guaranteed, and federal holidays are one of them. They let workers, students, and families take a break and get some rest. But now that more than half the year has passed, which holidays are still left on the calendar?

There have already been six federal holidays in 2025, from New Year's Day in January to Independence Day in July. Thus, you can only take a break five more times this year.

The federal government, banks, the U.S. Postal Service, the majority of schools, and numerous private enterprises all formally observe 11 federal holidays, which run from New Year's Day in January to Christmas Day in December, as per a report by USA Today.

What is a federal holiday?

A scheduled (and compensated) day off for non-essential US federal employees is known as a federal holiday. Typically, federal holidays are observed by major grocery chains, banks, financial markets, schools, and retailers.

Congress designates and the government recognizes federal holidays, also known as public holidays.

Eleven public holiday days are normally granted to federal employees each year, plus an extra day during the inauguration of a new president, as per a report by USA Today.

As of late August, there have already been six federal holidays in 2025: January 1st for New Year's Day, January 20th for Martin Luther King Jr., February 17th for Presidents' Day and Washington's birthday, May 26th for Memorial Day, Juneteenth Day on June 20, and July 4th for Independence Day, as per a report by USA Today.


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Which federal holidays are still left in 2025?

The remaining federal holidays in 2025 are listed here, along with the dates of each, as per a report by USA Today.

According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, five federal holidays remain in 2025:

• Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 1
• Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples Day): Monday, Oct. 13
• Veterans Day: Tuesday, Nov. 11
• Thanksgiving Day: Thursday, Nov. 27
• Christmas Day: Thursday, Dec. 25

These dates round out the annual holiday calendar, ensuring breaks are sprinkled throughout the last four months of the year.

How to extend vacation time during federal holidays?

It's easy to create extended breaks for the remainder of 2025; simply combine a few days of paid time off (PTO) or any other "free" days in your employer-sponsored time bank with federal holidays, as per a report by USA Today.

If you're prepared, you could take up to 20 days off in a row between Labor Day and Christmas Day.

Here's how you can do it, as per a report by USA Today.

Request PTO for Friday, August 29, in honor of Labor Day (Monday, September 1).
Four Days Off in a Row: August 29–September 1



On Monday, October 13, Columbus Day (Indigenous Peoples Day), please request paid time off for Friday, October 10.
Four days off in a row (October 10–13)

Request PTO for Monday, November 10th in honor of Veterans Day, which is Tuesday, November 11th.
Four days off in a row (November 8–11)



For Thursday, November 27, Thanksgiving Day, ask for paid time off on Monday, November 24, Tuesday, November 25, Wednesday, November 26, and Friday, November 28 (unless you already have Friday off).
Nine days off in a row (November 22–30)

Request PTO for Monday, December 22, Tuesday, December 23, Wednesday, December 24 (unless you have Christmas Eve off), and Friday, December 26 for Christmas Day (Thursday, December 25).
Nine days off in a row (December 20–28)

With some smart planning, you can take almost 20 days off in a row between Labor Day and Christmas without using up too many PTO days.

Federal holidays give you more than just a day off as the year comes to an end. They are a chance to plan trips, spend time with family, and rest up before the new year.

FAQs

How many federal holidays remain in 2025?
There are five federal holidays left this year.

What is the upcoming federal holiday?
Labor Day is on Monday, September 1, 2025.