President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the passing of former President Jimmy Carter at The Company House in Christiansted, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands on Dec. 29, 2024. Biden ordered that federal agencies close in a day of mourning on Jan. 9. SAUL LOEB / Getty Images
Biden to close federal agencies Jan. 9 for Carter day of mourning
The White House unveiled an executive order Monday giving federal employees Jan. 9 off in recognition of the death of the 39th president.
President Biden issued an executive order on Monday to close federal agencies and offices next month in recognition of former President Jimmy Carter, who died Sunday at 100 in his home in Plains, Georgia.
Much like the executive order Biden signed on Dec. 19 giving federal employees a day off for Christmas Eve, the measure covers all executive departments and agencies, except employees in positions of “national security, defense, or other public need.”
Carter, who oversaw the most significant reform of the federal civil service in the last 50 years during his single term in office, was the longest living president in U.S. history.
Despite notable accomplishments as president, his time out of the White House may have arguably eclipsed his tenure as chief executive, including decades of humanitarian work leading to the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.
The day off for federal employees follows recent precedent, as President Trump similarly closed agencies when President George H.W. Bush died in 2018.
In accompanying guidance, Office of Personnel Management acting Director Rob Shriver said all federal employees would be excused from duty Jan. 9 “except those who, in the judgment of the head of the agency, cannot be excused for reasons of national security, defense, or other essential public business.”
The day off applies to federal employees nationwide and will be treated like a holiday for purposes of pay and leave, the memorandum said. Employees who were already scheduled to take leave on Jan. 9 will not be charged that time off. Employees who weren't scheduled to work on Thursday will receive an "in lieu of" holiday on their preceding workday. Those who are required to work for security reasons and are normally entitled to holiday premium pay will receive that pay.
Biden and First Lady Jill Biden called Carter a "dear friend."
"With his compassion and moral clarity, he worked to eradicate disease, forge peace, advance civil rights and human rights, promote free and fair elections, house the homeless, and always advocate for the least among us. He saved, lifted, and changed the lives of people all across the globe," the Bidens said.
Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that federal employees previously scheduled to take leave on Jan. 9 will not be charged for that time. The previous version misstated the date.