Here's What You Need to Know About Wednesday's Government Closure

The Office of Personnel Management on Sunday released guidance with more details on the federal government's closure Wednesday honoring President George H.W. Bush.  

All federal employees 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" will receive Dec. 5 off so that they can "join their fellow citizens in remembering our forty-first President of the United States," acting OPM Director Margaret Weichert said in the memo to agency heads. Bush died Friday at the age of 94. He will lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda in Washington early this week and the public will be able to pay respects until Wednesday morning. 

The day off applies to federal employees nationwide and will be treated like a holiday for purposes of pay and leave, the memo said. Employees who were already scheduled to take leave on Dec. 5 will not be charged that time off. Employees who weren't scheduled to work on Wednesday 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. 

Click here to read the general guidance on holiday pay and leave, and here for more details on the national day of mourning for Bush.