Is Columbus Day a Federal Holiday? 2025 Dates & Closures

Ask anyone what holiday falls on the second Monday in October, and you’ll likely get a shrug or a guess. The answer matters more than you might expect if you’re waiting on a paycheck, planning a bank visit, or simply curious about what your state actually celebrates. Columbus Day sits on the books as a federal holiday—but what that means in practice varies wildly depending on where you live and who employs you.

Federal Status: Yes, second Monday in October · Observed By: Federal employees, post offices closed · 2025 Date: October 13 · State Variations: Some observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day · Mail Delivery: No USPS service

Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?

Yes. Columbus Day is one of 11 federal holidays recognized in the United States, listed officially on the second Monday in October per U.S. Code Title 5 Section 6103. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirms the holiday’s status, and President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation designating October 13, 2025, as Columbus Day. Federal government offices will be closed, and the United States Postal Service will not deliver mail.

The holiday traces back to April 30, 1934, when Congress passed a joint resolution requesting presidents issue annual proclamations for Columbus Day. The law was modified again in 1968 to settle the timing at the second Monday in October, moving it away from the earlier October 12 date.

Federal holiday list

OPM recognizes 11 federal holidays annually. Columbus Day is among the ten that fall on Mondays or Fridays to create longer weekends, making it a predictable date for planning purposes. The U.S. Naval Observatory’s official holiday calendar notes that the date falls on the second Monday regardless of calendar quirks—a consistent window that federal workers can count on year after year.

Observance details

Federal workers receive a paid day off, meaning government offices shut down and no mail moves through USPS. Federal courts close, and federally chartered banks connected to the Federal Reserve system do not process transactions. This affects anyone dealing with federal paperwork, permits, or immigration services on that date.

Is Columbus Day a public holiday in the USA?

The term “public holiday” often causes confusion. At the federal level, Columbus Day qualifies. At the state level, the picture fractures dramatically. According to Pew Research Center, 30 states and three U.S. territories recognize Columbus Day in some form—but only 20 states and two territories make it a paid holiday for state employees. The rest may list the day as a “state holiday” without compensation attached.

Federal vs. state differences

Your employer matters as much as your location. Federal workers always get Columbus Day off with pay. State workers in 20 jurisdictions get the same treatment. Private-sector employees? Their experience depends entirely on company policy. Some employers close, others stay open, and many treat it as an optional floating holiday.

State-specific quirks add layers. Washington state fixes Columbus Day on October 12 rather than the second Monday. Puerto Rico commemorates Columbus Day on November 19. Virginia observes the second Monday in October as both Columbus Day and Yorktown Victory Day. Tennessee officially lists Columbus Day but governors routinely shift it to the Friday after Thanksgiving via executive order.

National observance

Post offices and federal offices close nationwide, creating a uniform experience at the federal level. But “national” dissolves quickly beyond that. The Economic Times reported that Vermont employees under certain labor agreements may treat Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a floating paid holiday—a flexibility not available in most other states.

Who gets off on Columbus Day?

The answer depends on who signs your paycheck. Federal employees nationwide receive a guaranteed paid day off—roughly two million civilian workers. That’s the only universally true statement about who gets Columbus Day off.

Federal employees

Every federal worker in every state gets Columbus Day off, paid. This includes employees of the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Veterans Affairs, and all civilian agencies. Military personnel follow their own chain of command, but most bases observe the federal schedule.

Private sector and schools

Private companies operate on their own schedules. Retailers, restaurants, and warehouses frequently stay open, treating Columbus Day as a normal business day. Major retail chains often run sales tied to the “long weekend” marketing window.

Schools present a mixed picture. Many public school districts close on Columbus Day, citing the federal holiday, but a growing number have shifted to Indigenous Peoples’ Day or removed the October Monday from their calendars entirely. Parents should verify directly with their district office—policies change year to year, and local school boards make the final call.

Are banks closed on Columbus Day?

Mostly yes for core banking infrastructure, but retail branches tell a different story. According to Pew Research Center, most banks and bond markets close on Columbus Day—but stock markets and retailers remain open.

Federal Reserve banks

The Federal Reserve Bank system shuts down. Wire transfers, ACH transactions, and Fedwire services pause for the day. This means payroll direct deposits scheduled for October 13 may not clear until Tuesday, October 14. Businesses with automatic payment arrangements should account for this lag.

Retail branches

Large retail banks—Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo—typically close branch locations but keep online banking operational. Smaller regional banks and credit unions vary. Some maintain Saturday hours patterns, opening for limited service. Call your local branch or check its website before making a trip.

The New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ both remain open. Trading proceeds normally. For investors, this means Columbus Day creates a quirk: a day when you can trade stocks but cannot move money between banks via Fed systems.

What is the controversy around Columbus Day?

Columbus Day has become a flashpoint in debates over how American history is commemorated. The core tension: Christopher Columbus’s 1492 voyage initiated centuries of colonization, violence, and cultural suppression targeting Indigenous peoples. For many, celebrating Columbus sends the wrong message about whose stories deserve recognition.

Indigenous Peoples’ Day shift

The counter-movement began in 1989 when South Dakota became the first state to replace Columbus Day with Native American Day (Whole Whale). President Obama signaled federal recognition in 2009 by proclaiming October 12 as a day to celebrate Native Americans. President Biden made Indigenous Peoples’ Day a federal holiday in 2021, creating a parallel observance.

Today, more than half of U.S. states recognize Indigenous Peoples’ Day in some capacity, according to Time Now. Maine and New Mexico fully replaced Columbus Day statewide. Alaska, Oregon, and Vermont among early adopters at the state level. California maintains dual recognition with significant local variation—some counties observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day only, others keep Columbus Day.

State changes

The shift plays out differently across jurisdictions. According to Axios, 17 states observe Columbus Day exclusively, five states and Washington D.C. observe Indigenous Peoples’ Day only, and three states observe both. The Whole Whale reports that 14 states and roughly 130 local governments still celebrate Columbus Day.

Initiatives to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples’ Day began in the early 1990s, accelerating after 2015 when protests against Confederate monuments raised broader questions about whose history gets honored in public spaces. Berkeley, California, became the first city to make the switch in 1992.

The practical stakes are straightforward for federal workers: October 13 is a paid day off, plan accordingly. For everyone else—state employees in 20 lucky jurisdictions, private-sector workers hoping for a long weekend, or anyone needing a bank transaction—the answer requires checking your specific employer, state law, or local district. As state-by-state variation accelerates, the holiday that started with a 1934 resolution has become a patchwork that makes “Is Columbus Day a federal holiday?” a question that demands the follow-up: “And what does that mean for you?”

Related reading: 2nd Amendment federal law · US federal citizenship status

Columbus Day generates similar confusion as other entries on the 2025 US stat holidays list, which details all federal dates and typical closures for 2025.

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