Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day still a federal holiday after Trump’s changes?

 

‏Is Martin Luther King Jr. Day still a federal holiday after Trump’s changes?

‏Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a day designated to honor the life and legacy of the American civil rights icon. It's also one of two federal holidays the Trump administration is making changes to in 2026.

‏This year, Martin Luther King Jr. Day falls on Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.

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‏The holiday is observed each year on the third Monday of January, and the commemoration is the only federal holiday that is “designated as a national day of service to encourage all Americans to volunteer and improve their communities,”

‏Yes, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday. Former President Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law on November 2, 1983, and the first nationwide observance was held in 1986.

‏But it took longer than that for states across the country to adopt the holiday, including fights in Arizona, South Carolina and elsewhere, according to the National Constitution Center. Texas officially recognized MLK Day in 1991, and it wasn't until 2000 that all 50 states did the same. Today, it remains the only federal holiday designated as a national day of service, encouraging all Americans to volunteer and contribute to their communities.

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