Driving the news: The clocks go back despite a bipartisan House vote in July to make daylight saving time permanent and Trump’s subsequent push for Senate action.
- In July, the House approved the Sun Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, leading to later sunrises and sunsets during the winter months.
- But the bill has stalled in the Senate, where Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) has emerged as a leading opponent.
Trump’s battle for daylight saving time
Lobbying for tenure Daylight saving time is one of the quiet measures the Trump administration has taken since taking over the White House.
- Trump made it a midterm talking point during his campaign, urging the Senate to vote to keep DST permanent.
- The dispute intensified in October when Trump publicly accused Cotton of blocking the legislation. Trump shared Cotton’s cell phone number on social media, urging his constituents to pressure him to pass the bill.
What they say: “The president has been clear: He wants the Senate to pass the Sunshine Protection Act and send it to his desk to be signed into law quickly,” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle told Axios.
Yes, but: Although most Americans want to end the biannual time changes, they are not necessarily in favor of Trump’s solution.
- Gallup found that 48% of Americans support permanent year-round standard time, compared to 24% who prefer permanent daylight saving time, as Trump wants.
What time to change time on Sunday
The official change takes place on Sunday, November 1 at 2 a.m.
- The clocks will be set back one hour.
- Smartphones update automatically, while many devices like ovens, microwaves, and car dashboards require their own manual reset.
- Hawaii and most of Arizona don’t observe daylight saving time, so their clocks won’t change.
The debate over summer time
The debate is over permanent daylight saving time has been around for decades.
- In 1974, the United States experimented with year-round daylight saving time, but changed course due to concerns that children would go to school in the dark.
Experts are still debating whether permanent daylight saving time is good for people.
- Supporters argue that permanent daylight saving time would provide more afternoon and evening sunlight, encouraging outdoor activities.
- But sleep experts warn that darker mornings and lighter evenings can disrupt sleep cycles, while permanent daylight saving time could force millions of children to walk to school in the dark.
The bottom line: The American Academy of Sleep Medicine says it prefers permanent standard time because it better aligns with natural sleep cycles.
Will the time change in spring 2027?
What’s next: Unless Congress changes the law, most Americans will bounce back on March 14, 2027.
- Trump recently revived efforts to make daylight saving time permanent, although the proposal still faces opposition in the Senate and is not expected to be considered by the end of the year.
- The upcoming midterm elections could shift the balance of power in Congress, and potentially shift the debate.
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