Corrected Proclamation Honoring President George Washington's Birthday Within Article II Limits

This corrected proclamation would keep the honorable purpose of Proclamation 11011 while placing it plainly within presidential authority. It would proclaim February 16, 2026, as a commemorative observance of President George Washington's Birthday. It would invite schools, houses of worship, veterans groups, and local communities to hold programs on Washington's life, the Revolution, the Constitutional Convention, and the duties of self-government. Article II, Section 1 vests the executive power in the President and supports this kind of ceremonial proclamation. Article II, Section 3 requires faithful execution of the laws, which means the proclamation must follow existing holiday and leave laws rather than make new ones. The corrected text would state its legal limit in plain terms. It would explain that the proclamation creates no new federal paid holiday, changes no leave or pay rule, and orders no private person or state government to act. Article I, Section 8, Clause 1 gives Congress the power over federal spending, so no new funds or paid-leave benefit can be created by proclamation alone. The Tenth Amendment reserves other powers to the states and the people, so states, schools, and private groups would not be directed to act. Any federal office schedule for the day would follow existing law, with the Office of Personnel Management publishing a short public notice so workers and the public know what to expect. The strongest objection is that even a simple commemoration can cause confusion when it uses the word holiday. The answer is clarity and restraint. The revised proclamation would use the word observance, cite Article II ceremonial authority, and direct that agency participation be voluntary and funded only from existing operating budgets up to a $250,000 cap for printed and online materials. The First Amendment protects private speech and worship, so the invitation to pray and give thanks would remain voluntary and no person would be required to take part. The corrected proclamation would expire by its own terms after one year. It would provide that questions about office operations be handled through existing personnel channels, with review available in federal district court under existing law. In this way it would honor Washington's legacy, protect the separation of powers, and leave any lasting holiday or funding change where it belongs, with Congress. This SI revision would change only the legal effect: the tribute would stay, while the reserved-holiday wording would become a one-time commemorative observance with no new legal mandate.