Thursday is Juneteenth, thus many government buildings all around the United States are impacted by this federal holiday. The holiday will cause several departments both locally, statewide, and nationally to close their offices that day. In this article, you’ll know more about this unique day, know why it is observed as a federal holiday, and more.
What is Juneteenth and Why is it Observed as a Holiday?
Celebrated as America’s Second Independence Day, Juneteenth is generally observed as a federally acknowledged holiday starting 2021. Many Americans take advantage of a paid day off on this important day to celebrate the end of slavery. This holiday honors the day 1865 when Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger arrived at Galveston Bay, Texas, accompanied by almost 2,000 Union soldiers, to declare the freedom of almost 250,000 Black people living in the state.
Two and a half years after that, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863. This is why the day is special and is listed as a federal holiday for Americans in the country. Read further to get more information for this unique day, which falls on a Thursday this year.
Will Government Offices Be Closed on Juneteenth?
As per the U.S. Office of personnel management, Thursday, the 19th of June is a federal holiday and non-critical government offices will stay closed that day. Many public institutions at both local and state levels will also observe the holiday.
Are Banks and Stock Markets Open on June 19?
During Juneteenth, 2025, major banking tasks in the U.S. are staying closed for the day. This is partly due to the fact that the day is observed as a federal holiday. According to USA TODAY, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, PNC, Truist, Citibank, JPMorgan Chase, and Capital One branches will all be closed on that day. However, Capital One Cafes will continue to operate.
The U.S. stock market will stay closed and besides that, Nasdaq and the New York Stock Exchange won’t be trading on Thursday. This information is listed on their official site. This is an example of how important this federal holiday is for the U.S. holiday.
Will Retailers Remain Open?
As per ABC news, both Target and Walmart will be open during normal hours. Besides that, many types of retailers will also be open that day including wholesale outlets like Costco, Kroger, etc. Walgreen stores will be open but some of their pharmacies will stay closed at relevant locations in the country. Though CVS pharmacies will be open that day, they will only operate for limited hours.
The 2025 Federal Holiday Calendar
As per OPM, this is the federal holiday calendar for the remaining of 2025:
- Juneteenth: Thursday, June 19
- Independence Day: Friday, July 4
- Labor Day: Monday, Sept. 1
- Columbus Day: Monday, Oct. 13
- Veterans Day: Tuesday, Nov. 11
- Thanksgiving: Thursday, Nov. 27
- Christmas: Thursday, Dec. 25
Post Office, UPS, Fedex Activities on June 19, 2025
As Juneteenth is a federal holiday, every post office will stay closed for retail transactions. The notification on the USPIS official website for June 19 states that neither regular residential or commercial mail delivery will take place.
Priority Mail Express Service will be available for the citizens on June 18, along with other important days of the year, such as federal holidays. The websites of FedEx and UPS indicate that pickup and delivery services will be accessible on June 19. FedEx and UPS office sites will stay open, they will operate as per their normal working hours on that day.
What is So Important About Juneteenth this year?
This year’s Juneteenth celebration falls amid President Donald Trump’s efforts to Undermine civil rights laws and destroy diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives spread over the federal government. Trump issued a number of sweeping executive orders. As per experts and advocacy organizations, this might reverse decades of advancement toward enshrining civil rights safeguards and widen inequality.
From official websites, the administration has also deleted, occasionally momentarily, historical materials regarding Black Americans and other groups of color. The former U.S. President Joe Biden celebrated Juneteenth with huge gatherings on the South Lawn attended by thousands of people.
The White House has declared no official plans to recognize it. Whether Trump shows up for any activities that day is still unknown.
Government/Private Employees Who Participates Will Get Day off from Work
It is the fifth year of Juneteenth as a federal holiday and every government/private employee who participates on this day doesn’t have to work. But not every state government recognizes this holiday, which indicates that state employees in those states will have to work.
To revere Juneteenth in any state, the relevant legislature must pass bills to ensure it becomes a permanent holiday. Even to this day, race is a sensitive issue in the United States, this is five years after the George Flyod killing incident. Since then, The Department of Justice dropped police monitoring last month driven by Floyd and other Black Americans; federal reform initiatives have mostly stalled or failed to pass.
How are People Marking Juneteenth?
Americans are marking this important day with music, gatherings, festive meals, and freedom walks. Usually celebrations include parades and marches. Besides that, the citizens will also celebrate the holiday by planning for civil rights, reading books on African American history and legacy, going to celebrations and musical events, and dining at Black-owned eateries.
Final Words
Juneteenth 2025 gives you an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s journey toward freedom and equality. When you take time to learn about its history and meaning, you actively honor the struggles, resilience, and contributions of those who fought for justice. Celebrating this day helps you stay connected to the ongoing pursuit of civil rights in America.
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