Today, the U.S. remembers President Jimmy Carter. Which Kansas City offices are closed?
Flags have flown at half-staff around Kansas City ever since former U.S. President Jimmy Carter died Sunday, Dec. 29. Under the U.S. flag code, they will remain that way until Jan. 28.
But Thursday, Jan. 9, brings a special day of remembrance: As Carter’s loved ones gather at his funeral in Washington, D.C., the U.S. celebrates a rare national day of mourning.
While Jan. 9 is not an official federal holiday, many federal government agencies and departments are closed Thursday by order of President Joe Biden. Here’s a closer look at how that could impact you.
Which government agencies are closed Thursday to honor Jimmy Carter?
The U.S. Postal Service announced on its website that regular mail delivery and retail services will be closed Thursday, although limited parcel delivery will still happen. That means your local post office will be closed for business until Friday, Dec. 10.
Many federal employees in the Kansas City area will get a paid day off work Thursday, including those working at the Federal Reserve and the IRS. However, payment processing and other online systems at those agencies will continue working as normal. Payments due to the IRS by Thursday will have their deadline extended to Friday, Jan. 10.
While most national parks remain open Thursday, their administrative offices are mostly closed, according to the National Park Service.
“Visitors should check individual park websites prior to their visit for the most up-to-date information,” the agency’s website states.
Federal courts, including the Supreme Court, are also closed Thursday. The U.S. stock market is also closed, including the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq, the nation’s two largest stock exchanges.
Since a day of mourning is not an official federal holiday, most public schools are open Thursday — except those still impacted by snow in the Kansas City area. Military schools run by the Department of Defense will be closed.
What is a national day of mourning?
The tradition of a national day of mourning following the death of a notable public figure began in the U.S. after Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in 1865, according to The New York Times.
Since then, the deaths of other U.S. presidents have generally triggered a similar day of mourning during which many federal government agencies shut down. In recent years, this has included presidents who did not die in office and were not assassinated, like Presidents Dwight Eisenhower, Harry Truman, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford.
The most recent national day of mourning occurred in 2018 when former President George H. W. Bush died.
National days of mourning also followed the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy in 1968, despite neither being a U.S. president.
Do you have more questions about government services in Missouri or Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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