Juneteenth is observed annually on June 19 to commemorate the day in 1865 when the last enslaved people in the United States learned they were free. It was first celebrated in Texas.
In 2021, Juneteenth officially became a federal holiday in the U.S. after President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act into law.
Recent online search trends show many people are wondering if the post office will be closed on Juneteenth this year.
THE QUESTION
Will the USPS be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth?
THE SOURCES
- United States Postal Service (USPS)
- USPS spokesperson
THE ANSWER
Yes, the USPS will be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
WHAT WE FOUND
Post office locations nationwide will be closed on Wednesday, June 19, and there will be no regular mail delivery in observance of Juneteenth, according to a notice on the United States Postal Service (USPS) website.
In February 2021, the USPS revised its Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) to add the observance of Juneteenth as a federal holiday, according to the USPS Policies, Procedures, and Forms Updates webpage.
“Beginning in 2022, the Postal Service will recognize the Juneteenth National Independence Day as a holiday eligible to full-time and part-time career employees,” the USPS wrote.
Along with the post office, other federal offices and services will also be closed on June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.
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