Donald Trump, never one to shy away from calling out inefficiencies, declared his intent to end daylight saving time, describing it as an inconvenient relic that costs the nation more than it’s worth. In his characteristically direct style, Trump promised that the Republican Party would “use its best efforts” to eliminate what he deemed a pointless exercise. Predictably, his remarks stirred up the debate over whether fiddling with the clocks twice a year is a quaint tradition or an outdated nuisance.
Daylight saving time, which involves setting clocks forward in the summer to take advantage of longer daylight hours, has been part of American life since the 1960s. But its popularity has dwindled, with critics pointing to its disruption of sleep schedules and dubious energy-saving claims. While some lawmakers advocate for sticking with daylight saving time year-round, others prefer to revert to standard time. Meanwhile, the Biden administration, true to form, stayed on the fence, avoiding any clear stance on the matter during his presidency.
In 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously voted to make daylight saving time permanent, a rare show of bipartisanship. However, the effort hit a wall in the House, where lawmakers failed to reach a consensus, proving once again that even the simplest reforms can get bogged down in Washington’s dysfunction. Earlier this year, a group of senators made another push to lock the clocks in place, but progress has been about as slow as a winter sunrise. It seems Congress is in no hurry to tackle a problem most Americans either dislike or ignore altogether.
Supporters of permanent daylight saving time argue it would bring longer, brighter evenings, boosting economic activity and morale during the drearier winter months. But critics counter with concerns about schoolchildren trudging to class in the dark, thanks to the delayed sunrise. Others propose scrapping the entire system, noting that the semi-annual clock changes can wreak havoc on health, sleep patterns, and even productivity. Yet, Congress has not held new hearings on the matter in years, letting the debate drag on without resolution.
Daylight saving time has been experimented with before, most notably during World War II and again in the 1970s, when an energy crisis prompted its temporary adoption year-round. Both attempts proved unpopular, with complaints about dark mornings and minimal energy savings leading to their repeal. More recently, about 30 states have introduced legislation to ditch the clock changes altogether, though many of these measures hinge on neighboring states agreeing to do the same. While Trump’s push to end daylight saving time might find support among weary Americans tired of springing forward and falling back, don’t hold your breath for a speedy resolution. Congress has a knack for turning even the simplest issues into a long, drawn-out saga.
