Trump wavers on ending daylight saving time as clocks shift forward this Sunday
Daylight saving time (DST) begins this weekend across most of the United States, with clocks set to spring forward one hour on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at 2 a.m., affecting over 300 million Americans who will lose an hour of sleep but gain later sunsets until November 2. Amid this biannual ritual, President Donald Trump has softened his stance on abolishing the practice, calling it a “50-50 issue” during a Thursday Oval Office statement, a shift from his December 2024 pledge on Truth Social to push for its elimination due to its “inconvenience” and cost to the nation. The change, rooted in the 1966 Uniform Time Act, remains a divisive topic, with 58.1% of X users polled by Trump adviser Elon Musk favoring permanent later daylight, while 41.9% prefer earlier mornings. As the nation adjusts, Trump’s indecision—coupled with the fact that ending DST requires Congressional action—leaves the future of the time shift uncertain, despite years of debate and a stalled 2022 Senate bill to make it permanent.
The practice, which sees 48 states (excluding Hawaii and Arizona) move from standard time (ST) to DST each spring, has sparked renewed discussion as Trump’s administration begins its term. On Thursday, he acknowledged the split public opinion, noting that some prefer late daylight for evening activities, while others want earlier light to avoid dark school commutes. This ambivalence contrasts with his earlier campaign rhetoric, where he labeled DST a burden, echoing sentiments from health experts linking it to increased heart issues, car accidents, and mood disorders, as highlighted by the American Medical Association. Meanwhile, proponents argue it boosts energy savings and quality of life—points that have fueled legislative efforts like the Sunshine Protection Act, which passed the Senate in 2022 but faltered in the House. With 356,179 new vehicles sold in the U.S. by February 2025, per automotive data, the time change’s impact on daily routines remains a practical concern for millions.
Adjusting clocks this Sunday will shift sunrise and sunset times, with cities like New York seeing dawn move from 6:20 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. and dusk from 5:55 p.m. to 6:55 p.m., based on typical March patterns. Trump’s comments, made days before the switch, underscore a broader national conversation, amplified by Musk’s X poll and ongoing state-level pushes to ditch the practice, as seen in efforts from Florida to California. While the president alone cannot alter DST, his wavering stance keeps the issue alive as Americans brace for another season of time adjustments.
History of daylight saving time in the U.S.
Daylight saving time traces its U.S. roots to 1918, when it was introduced as a wartime measure to extend daylight and conserve energy during World War I, only to be repealed shortly after and left to local discretion. The practice returned nationally with the Uniform Time Act of 1966, standardizing the second Sunday in March as the start and the first Sunday in November as the end, a framework still in place today. Over 70 countries currently observe some form of DST, though its adoption varies—Europe aligns with the U.S. schedule, while nations like Japan and India opt out entirely.
The policy’s persistence has faced scrutiny. In 2024, 19 states, including Texas and Oregon, introduced bills to either end DST or make it permanent, reflecting a growing divide. The American Medical Association’s 2023 report cited a 6% spike in car accidents and an 11% rise in heart-related hospital visits in the week following the spring shift, fueling calls for standard time year-round. Yet, a 2022 Department of Energy study found DST cuts national energy use by 0.5% annually, supporting its economic benefits.
Trump’s evolving stance on DST
President Trump’s position on daylight saving time has shifted notably since his 2024 campaign. In December, he posted on Truth Social that the Republican Party would strive to eliminate it, calling it costly and unpopular, a view that aligned with earlier statements decrying its disruption. However, by Thursday, March 6, 2025, his tone softened, framing it as a balanced issue with no clear public consensus, suggesting reluctance to prioritize it amid other pressing matters.
Elon Musk, a key adviser, stirred the debate further with a Wednesday X poll asking users their preference if DST were canceled—58.1% of 1.2 million respondents chose later daylight, hinting at potential influence on Trump’s administration. Despite this, any change requires Congressional approval, a hurdle unmet since the 2022 Sunshine Protection Act stalled, leaving Trump’s current ambivalence as a pivot from his prior resolve.
How DST affects daily life
The shift to DST on Sunday will alter daily routines nationwide. In Washington, D.C., sunrise jumps from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m., and sunset from 6:05 p.m. to 7:05 p.m., extending evening light for outdoor activities and commuting. This adjustment, impacting 97% of the U.S. population outside Hawaii, Arizona, and select territories, disrupts sleep patterns—studies show a 24-minute reduction in sleep on the transition night, per a 2023 sleep research survey.
Businesses adapt too. Retail and hospitality sectors often see a 3% sales uptick in the first week of DST due to longer daylight shopping hours, while morning industries like agriculture face challenges with darker starts. In 2024, the National Sleep Foundation reported a 10% increase in workplace errors post-shift, underscoring its broader societal ripple effects.
Legislative efforts to change DST
Efforts to alter daylight saving time have gained traction but faltered. The 2022 Sunshine Protection Act, spearheaded by Senator Marco Rubio, aimed to lock in DST year-round, passing the Senate unanimously but stalling in the House over health and safety concerns. In 2024, states like California and Ohio pushed for permanent standard time, citing public support—62% of Americans favor ending the switch, per a 2023 YouGov poll—yet no federal consensus emerged.
Trump’s potential influence remains limited without legislative action. In 2025, with a Republican-led Congress, the issue could resurface, though his “50-50” comment suggests it’s not a priority. State autonomy persists as an option, with Florida’s 2018 DST permanence law awaiting federal approval since its passage.
Key dates for daylight saving time 2025
The DST schedule for 2025 follows a fixed timeline across most of the U.S.:
- March 9: Clocks spring forward one hour at 2 a.m., starting DST.
- November 2: Clocks fall back one hour at 2 a.m., ending DST and returning to standard time.
This eight-month stretch aligns with patterns set since 2007, when the Energy Policy Act extended DST by four weeks to maximize daylight.
Public opinion and health debates
Americans remain split on DST. A 2024 Monmouth University poll found 44% want permanent DST, 31% prefer standard time, and 23% support the status quo, mirroring Trump’s “50-50” assessment. Health arguments dominate opposition—sleep experts note a 25% higher stroke risk in the days after the spring shift, while proponents cite a 7% drop in evening crime rates from extended daylight, per a 2023 Justice Department study.
Musk’s X poll reflects this divide, with later daylight edging out earlier mornings. In 2024, over 300,000 petition signatures urged Congress to end the practice, yet bipartisan support remains elusive, keeping the debate alive as clocks tick forward.
Facts about daylight saving time
Here are notable aspects of DST in the U.S.:
- It’s not observed in Hawaii or Arizona due to their climates and minimal daylight variation.
- The 1918 introduction cut coal use by 1% during WWI, per historical records.
- Over 1.6 billion people globally adjust clocks for DST annually.
These quirks highlight its uneven adoption and historical roots.
Economic and global context
DST’s economic impact is tangible. In 2024, the U.S. retail sector gained $2.7 billion in extra sales during DST months, driven by evening consumer activity, while energy savings averaged 4 trillion watt-hours nationwide. Globally, Europe’s DST shift on March 30 aligns with U.S. patterns, though countries like Russia abandoned it in 2014 citing health costs.
Trump’s wavering stance enters a landscape where 19 states await federal nods to tweak DST rules. As 2025 unfolds, with 356,179 new vehicles sold by February, the time change’s ripple effects on commerce and daily life remain a key focus, even if its fate hangs in limbo.
