As Americans prepare to set their clocks back this Sunday, President Trump is making a renewed push to end the twice-a-year time change, but the effort remains stalled in the Senate, with even some Republicans resisting the move.
The House passed the Sunshine Protection Act earlier this year, which would make daylight saving time permanent, but the Senate has not taken it up. Trump has been vocal in his support, recently criticizing the Senate for "letting the Daylight Saving Bill die, when a vast Majority of the Country want it." In a post on Truth Social, he wrote, "Most people are demanding light in the evening, but ALL want not to change their clocks anymore. TAKE A VOTE!"
Congress is currently out of session and won't return until after the clocks change, meaning any action would have to wait. At a rally in Mississippi on Monday, Trump called the clock change "ridiculous" and said it "drives everyone crazy, which nobody wants to do anymore." He cited data showing lower crime rates with more evening light, and earlier this month argued the fallback "costs our Country a fortune, is bad for Crime, stress on people, Sports, and just about everything else you can imagine."
But the issue is far from settled, with both sides citing data to support their positions. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Rep. Mary Gary Scanlon (D-PA) and Rep. Pat Harrigan (R-NC), introduced the Sunshine for Our Kids Act in July, which would establish permanent standard time—the current winter schedule. They argue that more evening sunlight would leave mornings dark for schoolchildren and commuters. Scanlon said, "For decades, scientists and medical professionals have highlighted the detrimental mental and physical health impacts of twice-a-year clock changes, particularly on children and teens."
Even Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), a staunch Trump ally, opposes permanent daylight saving time. "No one likes changing the clock, me included, but Congress has enacted permanent Daylight Savings Time multiple times before and repealed it each time once Americans experienced absurdly late sunrises in the winter," he wrote on X. "Arkansans don't want their kids going to school in the pitch dark, and I'll always put Arkansas first."
Public opinion is mixed. An AP-NORC poll from last October found that only 12% of U.S. adults favor the current twice-a-year change, while 47% oppose it and 40% are indifferent. Fifty-six percent said they would prefer daylight saving time year-round, while 42% favored standard time.
Business groups, particularly the golf industry, are among the strongest advocates for permanent daylight saving time. Jay Karen, CEO of the National Golf Course Owners Association, testified before a Senate committee that "permanent DST is viewed as more beneficial to the golf industry, particularly for small business revenue, accessibility to the game, and general recreational enjoyment and benefits." He added, "Our industry is uniquely tied to daylight, and the number of playable hours directly affects the number of rounds we can offer, the staff we employ, and the revenue we generate, especially in the late afternoon and early evening."
Economic data also shows a boost from daylight saving time. A JP Morgan Chase Institute analysis found that in Los Angeles, debit card spending per capita rose 0.9% at the start of daylight saving time compared to Phoenix, which doesn't observe it, but dropped 3.5% when clocks fall back. Andy Owen of the National Association of Convenience Stores said the group doesn't take an official position but "would be comfortable" with permanent daylight saving time, noting that "shifting daylight to the end of the day tends to be good for business because it provides more time for shopping after regular work hours."
Studies do support Trump's claims on safety: full-year daylight saving would reduce pedestrian fatalities by 13% and motor vehicle occupant fatalities by 3%, and robberies drop about 7% for the entire day and 27% during the evening hour with more sunlight. However, health organizations like the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the American Medical Association, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms all advocate for permanent standard time, citing better alignment with natural circadian rhythms.
Dr. Carla Finkielston of Virginia Tech's Fralin Biomedical Research Institute described the health effects as "the immediate hit and then the slow burn," noting that in the days after the spring change, researchers have reported shorter sleep and other negative impacts.
The debate is likely to continue, with Trump's virtual rally plans and other political priorities competing for attention. As the clock change takes effect, the question remains whether Congress will act to end it for good.
