Key facts
- US Senate efforts to mandate year-round daylight saving time have stalled.
- President Donald Trump has publicly urged the Senate to approve the bill.
- The bill previously passed the House of Representatives by a 308-117 vote in July.
- Standard time is set to resume in the United States on November 1.
- Critics express concern over later sunrises in winter mornings, impacting commutes and children traveling to school.
- Supporters argue year-round daylight saving time would provide more evening daylight and boost economic activity.
Efforts in the US Senate to mandate year-round daylight saving time have stalled, despite significant pressure from President Donald Trump. Trump had urged the Senate to approve the bill, which passed the House in July by a 308-117 vote, to end the twice-yearly practice of changing clocks observed across most of the nation since the 1960s.
Trump stated on social media that changing clocks twice a year "costs our country a fortune, is bad for crime, stress on people, sports, and just about everything else you can imagine."
The Senate concluded its work for the week and has no votes scheduled before the November 3 congressional election. Standard time is scheduled to resume in the United States on November 1.
Republican Senator John Kennedy described the push to make daylight saving time permanent as "dead as disco," adding that he does not believe the Senate leader will bring it up for a vote. However, Republican Senator Rick Scott, a key sponsor of the bill, expressed confidence that it could be approved when lawmakers return.
Critics of permanent daylight saving time note that it would result in later sunrises during winter mornings, potentially affecting children traveling to school and commuters, construction workers, and farmers heading to work before daylight. In some areas, the sun might not rise until nearly 9 a.m. or later at the peak of winter.
Supporters contend that changing clocks disrupts sleep, increases workplace injuries, and contributes to more road accidents. They argue that maintaining clocks an hour ahead year-round would provide more evening daylight and stimulate economic activity during the winter months.
If enacted, clocks would no longer revert to standard time in 2027. However, states that currently do not observe daylight saving time or have voted to adopt permanent standard time before the law change could opt out of year-round daylight saving time.
The US previously observed year-round daylight saving time during World War Two and again in 1974 to conserve energy. This measure proved unpopular, and Congress repealed it later that year.