Are federal offices open on Columbus Day?

Columbus Day — the second Monday in October — is on OPM's federal holiday schedule, so federal offices close. This is the holiday where the federal answer and the everyday answer split hardest: the stock market trades, plenty of private employers work straight through, and several states have renamed the day or dropped it. The federal side is not in doubt.

Closed means Social Security field offices, IRS assistance centers, passport agencies, VA regional offices, and federal courts. State offices and DMVs make their own call, so a state building being open tells you nothing about the federal one across the street.

What else on Columbus Day?

Columbus Day across the board

Who	Status
Banks	Closed Mostly no — most banks are closed on Columbus Day, but it's a day worth double-checking.
Mail & the Post Office	Closed No — there's no mail delivery on Columbus Day, and post offices are closed.
The Stock Market	Open Yes — the stock market is open on Columbus Day.
UPS	Open Yes — UPS picks up and delivers on Columbus Day.
FedEx	Varies Yes — FedEx delivers on Columbus Day, with pickups on a modified schedule.
Trash Pickup	Varies Probably — most cities collect trash on Columbus Day, but some take it, so your hauler's list is the one to trust.
Schools	Varies It depends on your district — Columbus Day splits the country.

Questions people ask

Is Columbus Day still a federal holiday?

Yes. Some states and cities observe the day under a different name or not at all, but it remains one of the eleven holidays on OPM's schedule, and federal offices close.

Checked against the OPM federal holiday schedule, verified August 2026. When a schedule for a new year has not been published yet, this page says so — it never guesses.