Bill introduced in US Congress to make federal holidays on both Eids

New York City has had Eid holidays in all its schools since 2015, while several states already allow Muslim students and workers to take the day off

Indiana Democratic Congressman Andre Carson (left) and New York Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng (right).

A bill has been introduced in the US Congress seeking to make both Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha official federal holidays, reviving a push that failed to gather enough support when it was first tabled in 2024.

Democratic Congresswoman Grace Meng of New York and Indiana Congressman Andre Carson jointly introduced the bill on Wednesday.

Speaking on Eid-ul-Azha while extending greetings, Meng, who represents the Jamaica-Flushing area of Queens, home to a large Bangladeshi community, said recognising the two major Muslim religious festivals as federal holidays was long overdue and pledged to continue pushing for the bill until it becomes law.

She added that they feel “fortunate” to reintroduce the bill.

The bill, numbered HR-8755 and known as the Eid Day Act, was first introduced in 2024 with the backing of several other members of Congress, but failed to win enough support to go to a vote.

Much has shifted in American politics and public life since then.

In last November's election, New York City elected Zohran Mamdani, the first Muslim-American mayor in the city's 450-year history.

Muslim Americans have also become a significant voting bloc in several states, including Michigan, Virginia and Pennsylvania.

A number of states and cities have already moved to give Muslim students and workers the day off on Eid.

New York City made both Eid days school holidays back in 2015, while Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Illinois and Virginia are among the states where Muslim students and employees can already take Eid as a day off.

If the latest bill passes into law, it would fulfil a longstanding demand of more than 9 million Muslims across the United States.