January 9 is a National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter: What to know

Jimmy Carter will be honored in Washington

Nearly 44 years after Jimmy Carter left the nation’s capital, the 39th president returns to Washington for three days of state funeral rites starting on Tuesday. Professor Grant Reeher with Syracuse University joined LiveNOW from FOX to discuss.

A National Day of Mourning will be held Thursday, January 9, to coincide with the official state funeral of former President Jimmy Carter.

President Joe Biden declared a National Day of Mourning shortly after Carter’s death, which is customary following the passing of an American president. In his proclamation, Biden described Carter as a "man of character, courage, and compassion, whose lifetime of service defined him as one of the most influential statesmen in our history."

The day of mourning will be held on the same day as Carter’s official state funeral at Washington National Cathedral. President Biden will deliver a eulogy, and a eulogy written by former President Gerald Ford, who died in 2006, will be read by his son Steven Ford.

What is a National Day of Mourning?

The flag-draped casket of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter lies in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda on January 8, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Expand

There’s no official criteria for declaring a National Day of Mourning, and they aren’t limited to the deaths of current and former U.S. presidents.

American flags at the White House, public buildings, military bases, naval ships and U.S. embassies around the world are ordered to be flown at half-staff to honor Carter for 30 days after his death.

Biden has also ordered the closure of the federal government and asked the American people to gather in their places of worship to remember the former president.

The most recent national day of mourning for a president was in December 2018 following the death of George H.W. Bush.

In addition to presidents, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy were each given National Days of Mourning following their assassinations. President George W. Bush also declared a National Day of Mourning following the 9/11 attacks.

What’s closed on National Day of Mourning for Jimmy Carter

Remembering Jimmy Carter

LiveNOW's Christina Evans discusses the life and legacy of the 39th president of the United States, James Earl Carter Jr.

Federal government: All executive departments and agencies, except those essential for national security, defense or public need.
Stock markets: The New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq will close. Bond markets will operate with reduced hours, closing at 2 p.m. ET.
U.S. Postal Service: Mail delivery and post offices will be suspended, with limited package delivery.
Courts and archives: The U.S. Supreme Court, federal courts, the Library of Congress, and the National Archives will close.
Department of Defense schools: Department of Defense Education Activity organizations and schools will not operate.

What’s open on National Day of Mourning

Banks are not required to close, as the National Day of Mourning is not treated as a federal holiday.
National parks will mostly be open, but their administrative offices will close.
There’s been no directive on whether public schools across the nation should close, so it’s up to local districts to decide whether schools will remain open.