This Act officially designates St. Patrick's Day as a federal holiday.
Brian Fitzpatrick
Representative
PA-1
The St. Patrick's Day Act officially designates St. Patrick's Day as a federal holiday. This amendment adds the observance to the list of recognized federal holidays under U.S. Code. Consequently, St. Patrick's Day will now be treated the same as other federal holidays for matters such as federal office closures and employee leave.
St. Patrick’s Day Act Adds New Federal Holiday: What It Means for Government Workers and Closures
The “St. Patrick’s Day Act” is about as straightforward as legislation gets: it adds St. Patrick’s Day to the official list of federal holidays. If this bill becomes law, March 17th will be treated exactly like Washington’s Birthday or Thanksgiving when it comes to federal operations. Specifically, the bill amends Section 6103(a) of title 5, United States Code, which is the master list of days the federal government is supposed to observe.
The Upside: An Extra Day Off for Federal Employees
For the roughly two million federal employees across the country, this means an additional paid day off every year. If you work for the VA, the IRS, the Post Office (though they often operate on different holiday schedules), or any other federal agency, you’ll be getting the day off, or receiving holiday pay if your job requires you to work. This is a clear benefit for those workers, offering a little extra time off without using vacation days.
The Real-World Impact: Government Closures
For the rest of us, the main consequence is administrative. When the federal government recognizes a holiday, most non-essential federal offices close. Need to visit the Social Security office? Want to get a new passport application processed at a federal building? Expect those doors to be locked on March 17th. While this might be a minor inconvenience for someone planning to run errands, the change is predictable and standardized, which helps agencies plan their schedules and staffing.
The Cost of Celebration
Designating a new federal holiday isn’t free. Federal agencies will face minor increased operational costs, primarily related to paying employees for a day they aren’t working or paying premium holiday wages to essential staff who must remain on duty. While the bill doesn’t specify the dollar amount, adding a mandatory paid day off is an expense the government absorbs. However, since the bill is simply adding a recognized day to an existing legal framework, the administrative process is clear and the overall operational impact is considered low.