Christmas came early for Maryland state workers as Governor Wes Moore declared Christmas Eve a holiday on Sunday.
In a news release, Moore said state agencies and offices will be closed Tuesday and employees will have the day off, with Dec. 24 “being treated like any other state employee holiday.”
“Our state employees have worked tirelessly all year to ensure Maryland is safer, more affordable, more competitive and the state it serves,” Moore said in the news release. “We hope that all of our great 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 and closed most federal agencies on Dec. 24 in an executive order he signed Thursday.
Christmas Day is a federal holiday, but the day before is not. Giving employees a holiday on Christmas Eve has had a bipartisan appeal for both federal and state governments.
The last time federal employees got December 24 off was under former President Donald Trump, who also allowed it as a holiday in 2018 and 2019.
In Maryland, former Governor Larry Hogan gave state workers a holiday for December 24 in 2018. In 2022, Hogan gave state workers a day off on December 23, when Christmas Eve fell on a Saturday.
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