Why is MLK Day not a national holiday? Is MLK a federal holiday?

Many people wonder why Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not a national holiday in the United States. The answer is that it is, but not in the way that some other holidays are.

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a federal holiday held on the third Monday of January. It celebrates the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr., an influential American civil rights leader. He is most well-known for his campaigns to end racial segregation on public transport and for racial equality in the United States.

However, a federal holiday does not mean that every state, city, or business has to observe it. According to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, federal holidays only apply to federal employees and the District of Columbia.

States and local governments can choose whether or not to follow the federal holiday schedule. Some private businesses may also decide to close or remain open on federal holidays.