United States Senate / Wikimedia Commons
CV NEWS FEED // Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-MO, introduced legislation to make Easter Monday a federal holiday, citing the day’s religious and cultural significance for millions of Americans.
“Recently, I proudly introduced a bill to establish Easter Monday as a federal holiday in the United States,” Schmitt said in a statement. “Despite only two-thirds of Americans identifying as Christian, more than 80% of Americans celebrate Easter each year. The current lack of a federal Easter Holiday significantly limits Americans’ ability to celebrate with friends, family, and church communities.”
The proposed Easter Monday Act of 2025 would add a day after Easter to the federal calendar, which currently has no national holidays between Presidents Day in February and Memorial Day in May. Schmitt argued that this “longest unbroken work stretch of the calendar” leaves little opportunity for families to celebrate Easter.
“[O]ur current holiday schedule makes it way too difficult for families to celebrate together,” Schmitt wrote. “Easter falls on the longest unbroken work stretch of the calendar.”
Schmitt also noted that the extended Easter weekend would have economic benefits. Easter weekend generates approximately $15 billion in travel and retail spending, Schmitt argued, which could rise by 10-15% if the holiday were extended to Monday.
“This holiday would not be some boutique left-wing micro-holiday,” Schmitt added. “It would reflect the fact that more than three-quarters of Americans celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
Easter Monday is already recognized as a national holiday in many countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and most of Western Europe.
“A federal Easter Monday holiday allows Americans to celebrate the most extraordinary day in world history—Easter—the day of Christ’s resurrection,” Schmitt said.
