Restoring Washington's Birthday Act of 2026
- Bill Number
- H.R. 7663
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Government Operations and Politics
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-13T22:01:56Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Restoring Washington's Birthday Act of 2026" (H.R. 7663) aims to modify federal public holidays by returning the observance of Washington's Birthday to its historical date of February 22 and establishing Lincoln's Birthday as a new legal public holiday. This seeks to honor these presidents on their actual birthdates rather than a combined "Presidents' Day" on a Monday.
Key Provisions
- Addition of Lincoln's Birthday: Inserts "Lincoln's Birthday" as a new federal holiday immediately following Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in the list of public holidays under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a).
- Change to Washington's Birthday: Updates the date for Washington's Birthday from the third Monday in February to the fixed date of February 22.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Currently, under 5 U.S.C. § 6103(a), Washington's Birthday is observed on the third Monday in February, creating a three-day weekend and often combining it with other presidential observances (commonly called "Presidents' Day").
- This bill eliminates the Monday observance for Washington, reverting to his actual birthday (February 22), and introduces a separate holiday for Abraham Lincoln's birthday (February 12), which was not previously a federal holiday.
- These changes apply only to federal legal public holidays; states may choose whether to adopt them for state employees or private sectors.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Federal agencies would need to adjust operations, payroll, and leave policies for an additional holiday, potentially increasing administrative costs for scheduling around two mid-February dates that may fall on weekdays.
- On Citizens: Federal employees and those in federally regulated sectors (e.g., banking, postal services) would gain an extra paid holiday, providing more time off. However, Washington's Birthday shifting from a Monday could reduce three-day weekends unless February 22 falls on a Friday or Monday. Private citizens and non-federal workers may see indirect effects if employers align with federal holidays.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic holiday adjustment with no bearing on foreign policy or treaties.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Federal Employees and Agencies: Primary beneficiaries of the new holiday but may face scheduling disruptions.
- State and Local Governments: Could influence decisions on aligning state holidays, affecting public sector workers.
- Private Sector Employers and Workers: Businesses that observe federal holidays (e.g., retail, finance) might extend time off, impacting operations and employee morale.
- Historical and Educational Groups: Organizations focused on U.S. presidential history may support the bill for promoting accurate historical observance.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: The changes are statutory, amending Title 5 of the U.S. Code, which governs federal holidays without requiring constitutional amendments. Implementation would occur upon enactment, with no retroactive effects.
- Constitutional: No significant issues, as Congress has broad authority under Article I to regulate federal operations, including holidays (a power derived from managing government functions).
- Political: The bill reflects a push to preserve historical specificity over convenience-based observances, potentially sparking debates on tradition versus modern work-life balance. It was introduced by Rep. Ogles and referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, indicating a focus on federal administrative reforms rather than broader policy shifts.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Recent Actions
- 2026-02-24: Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
- 2026-02-24: Introduced in House
- 2026-02-24: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Restoring Washington's Birthday Act of 2026 — issued 2026-02-24 — PDF (2 pages)