No Official Word Yet on Extra Day Off

Although rumors are rampant in the federal workplace that President Obama will grant December 26 as a day off without charge to leave, there is still no official word and for the present at least, the rumors remain just that. There is precedent for granting that day off when it falls on a Friday, as it does this year: President Clinton did it in 1997 and President Bush did it in 2003 and 2008; also, Obama similarly created a four-day weekend in 2012 by granting the 24th off when it fell on a Monday. However, granting time off is a matter of discretion and past actions are not binding.