Daylight Saving Time: Clocks Spring Forward—Will It Ever Change?

Get ready to lose an hour of sleep! Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins tonight, meaning clocks will move forward by one hour at 2 a.m. local time. This happens every year on the second Sunday of March, giving us longer daylight hours in the evening. While many people enjoy the extra sunshine, the practice has also been debated for years. Now, former President Donald Trump has suggested he may not support changing it—leaving Americans wondering if the time change will ever go away.

Will Trump Get Rid of Daylight Saving Time?

It's unclear. On Thursday, Trump hinted that he may not push to eliminate daylight saving time if he is reelected. However, back in December, he posted on Truth Social that the Republican Party would work to remove it. He called DST “very costly” for the nation but acknowledged that some people strongly support it.

But even if Trump wanted to get rid of DST, he couldn’t do it alone. Changing daylight saving time would require Congress to pass a law and the president to approve it. In 2022, the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act, which would have made daylight saving time permanent. However, the bill never made it through the House of Representatives, so the yearly clock changes continue.

When Does Daylight Saving Time Begin?

Right now, the U.S. is in standard time (ST), which lasts from November to early March. But that changes tonight. Daylight saving time officially begins on Sunday, March 9, at 2 a.m. Most Americans will turn their clocks ahead by one hour, losing sleep but gaining more daylight in the evening. DST will last until November 2, when clocks will move back an hour again.

What Does Elon Musk Think About DST?

It’s not clear where Elon Musk stands on the issue, but he did ask Americans for their opinion. On Wednesday, Musk—who is now a key Trump adviser—posted a poll on X (formerly Twitter) asking people what they would prefer if DST were canceled. The results? 58.1% wanted an hour later, while 41.9% preferred an hour earlier.

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight saving time has been around for over 100 years. It was first introduced in 1918 during World War I as a way to give people more daylight and save energy. However, it wasn’t popular at the time and was quickly repealed, leaving it up to local governments.

In 1966, the U.S. made daylight saving time a nationwide practice with the Uniform Time Act. Since then, it has been in effect every year, although some states don’t follow it. Hawaii and most of Arizona have chosen to stay on standard time year-round.

The Great Daylight Saving Debate

Over the years, many people have argued about whether daylight saving time is good or bad. Here are some of the main points from both sides:

Why Some People Want to Get Rid of DST:

Health Risks: Studies show that switching the clocks can cause heart problems, sleep disturbances, and mood disorders. The American Medical Association has even called for DST to be eliminated.

More Car Accidents: The time change can make people drowsy, leading to more car crashes in the days following the switch.

Disrupts Sleep Patterns: Losing an hour of sleep can throw off people’s schedules, making it harder to wake up and feel alert.

Why Others Want to Keep DST:

More Evening Sunlight: People enjoy having more daylight after work and school, which allows for more outdoor activities.

Energy Savings: Some research suggests that DST reduces electricity use because people rely less on artificial lighting.

Happier Lifestyle: Many people feel more productive and energetic when there’s extra daylight in the evening.

Will Daylight Saving Time Ever End?

Lawmakers have tried to make changes to daylight saving time for years. The closest they came was in 2022, when the Senate passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent. If that law had passed, there would be no more changing clocks twice a year. However, the bill never got a vote in the House, so it didn’t become law.

For now, Americans will continue to adjust their clocks twice a year. Whether Trump—or another president—pushes to change that in the future remains to be seen.

What You Need to Do Tonight?

If you live in a state that follows daylight saving time, set your clocks forward one hour before bed. Yes, you’ll lose an hour of sleep, but you’ll gain an extra hour of daylight in the evening. Whether you love or hate DST, it’s here to stay—for now.

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