Christmas Eve to be state holiday this year in Maryland

Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, The Baltimore Sun on Dec 22, 2024

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Christmas came early for Maryland state employees as Gov. Wes Moore on Sunday declared Christmas Eve a state holiday.

In a news release, Moore said state agencies and offices will be closed Tuesday and workers will have the day off, with Dec. 24 being “treated like any other state employee holiday.”

“Our state employees have worked tirelessly all year long ensuring that Maryland is safer, more affordable, more competitive and the state that serves,” Moore said in the news release. “We hope that all of our incredible public servants across the state can take a much-needed day to be with their loved ones this holiday season.”

Last week, President Joe Biden gave federal workers the day off on Christmas Eve, closing most federal agencies on Dec. 24 in an executive order he signed Thursday.

Christmas Day is a federal holiday, however the day before is not. Giving workers a holiday on Christmas Eve has had bipartisan appeal for both federal and state governments.

The last time federal employees received Dec. 24 off was under former President Donald Trump, who also allowed it as a holiday in 2018 and 2019.

In Maryland, former Gov. Larry Hogan gave state workers a holiday for Dec. 24 in 2018. In 2022, Hogan gave state employees the day off on Dec. 23, when Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday.

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