Frequently Asked Questions: Washington’s Birthday (and other Federal Holidays)

Q. Why does the National Weather Service (NWS) forecast use Washington's Birthday
and not Presidents Day?
A. Weather forecasts reference “Washington’s Birthday” because that is the name of the holiday, by law.
Section 6103(a) of Title 5 of the United States Code is the law that specifies federal holidays. Although
other institutions such as state and local governments and private businesses may use other names,
the NWS, as a federal agency, must use the name designated in the law.

Q. Wasn’t the holiday changed to Presidents Day when it was established by Congress
to be observed on the third Monday in February?
A. No. The effort to rename the holiday Presidents Day, intended to honor the birthdays
of both Washington and Lincoln, failed in congressional committee. The bill, which
was then signed into law on June 28, 1968, specified that the federal holiday would
retain the name Washington’s Birthday. The Uniform Monday Holiday Act of January
1, 1971, established its observance on the third Monday in February.

Q. So what are the other Federal Holidays?
A. Follow this link:
https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/federal-holidays/#url=2023