Sponsors
The bill restores historical federal observances and adds a paid holiday for Lincoln's Birthday, benefiting federal workers and ceremonial consistency, at the cost of higher federal payroll/operational expenses and potential scheduling mismatches for states, employers, and workers.
Federal employees gain a distinct paid holiday for Lincoln's Birthday, giving them additional paid time off and a formally recognized federal observance.
Americans and federal agencies regain the historical fixed-date observance of Washington's Birthday on February 22, restoring consistency for commemorations tied to that date.
Taxpayers and the federal government will face higher payroll and operational costs because an additional federal holiday increases paid leave and agency expenses.
States and private employers may face mismatches between federal observance dates and existing state or company holiday calendars, creating administrative complexity and uneven time-off practices.
Federal employees and employers may lose the predictability and planning convenience of the Monday 'Presidents Day' schedule when Washington's Birthday is fixed to Feb 22, potentially disrupting work schedules and leave planning.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds Lincoln’s Birthday as a separate federal holiday and sets Washington’s Birthday to the fixed date February 22 instead of the third Monday in February.
Makes two changes to the federal list of legal public holidays: it adds Lincoln’s Birthday as a separately listed federal holiday and changes the statutory observance date for Washington’s Birthday from the floating "third Monday in February" to the fixed date February 22. The edit is made by amending 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a), which defines federal legal public holidays, and does not include funding or program authorizations.
Introduced February 24, 2026 by Andy Ogles · Last progress February 24, 2026