President Trump told White House reporters on Thursday that he has no intention of ending the longstanding practice of daylight saving time.
“It’s a 50/50 issue, and if something is a 50/50 issue, it’s hard to get excited about it,” he told reporters on Thursday.
President Donald Trump has previously expressed his intention to abolish Daylight Saving Time (DST) publicly, labeling the biannual clock changes as “inconvenient” and “very costly” to the nation. In a December 2024 post on Truth Social, he stated, “The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t!”
The United States has observed DST for over a century, adjusting clocks forward in spring and back in fall to extend evening daylight during warmer months. However, this practice has faced increasing criticism due to its potential health implications, including disruptions to sleep patterns and increased risks of heart attacks and strokes following the transitions.
Legislative efforts to eliminate DST have gained traction in recent years. In 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act, proposing to make DST permanent and end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. Despite this progress, the bill stalled in the House of Representatives and did not become law.
Several states have also taken steps toward abolishing DST. Over 30 states have introduced legislation to end the time changes, with seven states—Alabama, Arkansas, Nevada, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Florida—passing laws to adopt permanent DST. However, these state laws require federal approval to be enacted.
As the nation approaches the next scheduled clock change on March 9, 2025, when clocks “spring forward” by one hour, discussions continue regarding the future of DST. Proponents of eliminating DST argue that maintaining a consistent time year-round would provide health benefits, boost the economy, and allow Americans to enjoy sunlight during their most productive hours.
