The United States is approaching the end of daylight saving time (DST) in 2025. The change occurs at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 2, when clocks are set back one hour to standard time. This practice, adopted in most states, aims to optimize the use of natural daylight throughout the year.
The adjustment grants an extra hour of sleep to affected residents. However, it results in earlier sunsets, reducing daylight in the late afternoon. The measure impacts about 300 million people and varies by region, with exceptions like Hawaii and Arizona.
The decision follows the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which sets the period from March to November. In 2025, the end falls on the second earliest possible Sunday, one day earlier than the previous year.
President-elect Donald Trump has voiced support for ending the biannual changes. He described the practice as inconvenient and costly to the nation in a December 2024 post. Trump indicated that the Republican Party will prioritize legislative efforts to eliminate it after his January inauguration.
Origin and current application
Daylight saving time began in Germany in 1916 to save energy during World War I. The US adopted it in 1918, with revocations and reinstatements during crises like World War II and the 1973 oil embargo.
Since 2007, the period spans eight months, starting on the second Sunday of March. In 2025, it began on March 9 and ends on November 2.
States like Florida and Texas push for permanent adoption through local laws. About 30 states are debating ending the changes, pending federal approval.
Arguments for maintaining DST
Proponents highlight economic benefits of extra evening light. Studies show a 7% reduction in crimes like theft during daylight hours.
Retail and tourism benefit from extended outdoor activities. A 2021 survey found 58% of Americans prefer advanced time for more evening leisure.
Coordination with international time zones aids trade. Countries like Canada and Mexico follow similar patterns, minimizing disruptions.
Arguments against the change
Critics cite public health impacts. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine reports a 6% increase in traffic accidents after DST begins, linked to sleep loss.
Congressional studies show minimal energy savings, with lighting gains offset by higher air-conditioning use. In 2024, the annual transition cost billions in productivity losses.
Sleep experts advocate for permanent standard time. Trump echoed this view in March 2025, noting evenly split opinions and challenges in rallying support.
Recent legislative efforts
The Sunshine Protection Act proposes permanent DST. Unanimously approved in the Senate in 2022, it stalled in the House due to lack of consensus on which time to adopt.
In 2025, the bill gained 45 bipartisan cosponsors. Trump signaled support in April, aligning with his 2019 stance for more evening light.
States like Oregon and Washington seek regional DST blocks. The European Commission discusses similar abolition, with Poland and Lithuania leading by 2027.
- Proposals include a 2026 vote for national standardization.
- Territorial exceptions, like Puerto Rico, maintain fixed time.
- Polls show 75% opposed to biannual changes in 2021.
Effects on daily routine
The shift to standard time alters work and school schedules. In the first weeks, 40% of workers report fatigue, per a 2023 study.
Public transport adjusts routes to match the new time. International airports, like those in New York, see confusion peaks in transatlantic flights.
Tech companies update systems automatically. In Brazil, the absence of DST since 2019 reduces time differences to one hour during the US period.
The impact extends to cross-border trade. Companies with US operations prepare annual adaptation guides.
Outlook for 2026
The next DST begins on March 8, 2026. Congressional debates intensify with Republican control of both chambers.
Public consultations in 2024 showed 62% favoring an end to changes. Analysts predict a 2026 vote if Trump prioritizes the issue.
Polar regions face extreme light conditions, with up to 24 hours of darkness in December. In the continental US, the shortest day is December 21.