As clocks fall back this weekend, the perennial push to make daylight saving time permanent faces stiff resistance in the Senate, with several Republicans—including some in leadership—vowing to block the measure.
Supporters argue that ending the twice-yearly time change would keep afternoons brighter when Americans are most active, but opponents warn that in northern states, winter sunrises would be pushed past 9 a.m., forcing children to head to school in darkness.
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a vocal opponent, noted that Congress has tried permanent daylight saving time before and reversed course each time. “No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent daylight saving time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter,” he said.
Cotton, a member of GOP leadership, has drawn President Trump’s ire. Earlier this month, Trump posted Cotton’s personal cellphone number on social media and demanded, “GET IT DONE!” But Cotton is not alone in blocking the legislation.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) echoed Cotton’s concerns, saying, “You’d be sending kids to school in the dark.” Several other Republicans from northern states have voiced similar objections, making it unlikely the bill will reach the Senate floor.
Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.) said the House bill is a “nonstarter” for Senate GOP leaders. Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-Ohio) was blunter: “No way.” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has not publicly commented, but he has voted against similar measures in the past.
The legislation’s prospects are further dimmed by the short legislative calendar ahead of the November midterms. Even if the House were to pass a bill, Senate Republicans predict it would not come up for a vote before the session ends.
For now, Americans will continue to fall back and spring forward, a practice that remains deeply unpopular with the public. A recent analysis of November daylight highlights how much sunlight is lost in the coming weeks, underscoring the trade-offs at the heart of the debate.
While Trump has made permanent daylight saving time a priority, his influence may not be enough to overcome entrenched regional concerns. As one GOP aide put it, “This is a classic case where the politics of geography trump the politics of the presidency.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
