U.S. President-elect Donald Trump announced Friday that the Republican Party will work to end daylight saving time, calling it “inconvenient and very costly to our Nation.” On social media, Trump said, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t!”
Daylight saving time, which involves moving clocks forward one hour during summer to maximize evening daylight, has been widely adopted in the U.S. since the 1960s. However, it remains controversial. Some lawmakers support staying on standard time year-round, while others favor permanent daylight saving time. Many, however, prefer the status quo. President Joe Biden has not publicly addressed the issue.
In March 2022, the Senate unanimously voted to make daylight saving time permanent, but the measure stalled in the House due to lack of consensus. Advocates argue it would boost economic activity with brighter winter evenings, while critics highlight safety concerns, such as children walking to school in darkness. Others propose eliminating the time change altogether, citing health and sleep disruptions.
Congress has not revisited the issue in over two years. A similar move for year-round daylight saving time during the 1970s oil crisis was repealed due to unpopularity. Since 2015, about 30 states have considered or passed legislation to address the time change, often contingent on regional cooperation.
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