As Christmas rings in a time for family and celebration, the District Government is adjusting its operations in observance of the holiday. On December 24, government offices will be observing modified hours, closing early to honor Christmas Eve. The following day, offices will be closed for the full day to observe Christmas Day. Despite the reduced hours, essential services will continue to run to maintain critical operations across the district.
The schedule changes will affect various services. Emergency shelters, for instance, won't close their doors. All low-barrier shelters for individuals experiencing homelessness will remain open around the clock on both December 24 and 25, including dedicated facilities for women, men, and the LGBTQ+ community. The hypothermia shelters, operated from November through March to accommodate the increased needs during colder months, will also continue to provide warmth and refuge during this period. according to a release from the Mayor's Office.
For those needing assistance with mental health or substance use issues, the DC Department of Behavioral Health remains a phone call or text away. Accessible via 988, these services provide free, confidential support at any hour, an essential lifeline for individuals in need. Public spaces such as parks and outdoor recreational facilities will also remain open, and for those who have already scheduled events, everything will go on as planned.
However, the traditional trash collection won't run on December 25. Collections for trash, recycling, and food waste will shift to the next day, affecting service for the remainder of the week. For instance, those who generally receive service on Thursday will have to wait until Friday. The Department of Public Works (DPW) leaf collection will keep to its regular schedule, but Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) locations will close early on December 24 and won't reopen until after the holiday. For those who wanted to beat the holiday DMV rush, it's already too late.
Students in the district can enjoy an extended break as DC Public Schools start their winter holiday on December 22, not returning until January 5. Similarly, the public library system will take a pause, closing its doors on the holiday and operating with reduced hours on Christmas Eve. Residents looking to access other government services should be mindful of these adjustments, as many centers such as recreation and community centers, and DHS Economic Security Administration Service Centers will follow a similar early closure pattern on Christmas Eve and will not be available on Christmas Day.
Amidst the holiday cheer, parking enforcement is taking a breather too, suspending operations on December 25, except for Streetcar ticketing and towing. However, normal enforcement will resume promptly the day after Christmas. It's a brief respite from the city's usually vigilant parking oversight, a small Christmas gift, if you will.
For additional details and an exhaustive list of service adjustments, residents are encouraged to visit the official holiday services notification on the Mayor's Office website.
