Morning in America may soon arrive earlier than ever before, as President-elect Donald Trump has promised to end daylight saving time—a bold proposal that could significantly alter daily life in the U.S. during the spring and summer months. If enacted, the change would mean more daylight in the morning, as daylight saving time, which typically shifts sunlight into later hours, would be abandoned. Under standard time, sunshine would be spread across earlier hours, ensuring that children wouldn’t be walking to school in the dark of winter.
Daylight saving time is typically seen as a boon for long, bright spring and summer days, but there are concerns over its impact on health. Critics argue that it can contribute to mood disorders, heart problems, and even traffic accidents. For years, medical experts have advocated for permanent standard time, which they argue better aligns with the body’s natural rhythms.
Dr. Kin Yuen, a sleep expert from the University of California, San Francisco, expressed surprise and excitement at Trump’s announcement, although she remains cautious. Despite the president-elect’s clear commitment on social media, she and her colleagues are still uncertain about the likelihood of the change. “We’re elated,” said Yuen, “but we were also incredulous.” She hopes that this shift will raise awareness about the health benefits of adopting standard time year-round.
However, daylight saving time will return on March 9, 2025, extending daylight hours to 11 to 15 hours, with sunrise as early as 5:30 a.m. In regions that remain on standard time throughout the year, the sun would rise earlier in the summer—sometimes as early as 4:30 a.m. In exchange, evenings would see earlier sunsets.
This adjustment would impact activities like summer baseball games. Currently, these games, which often start at 7 p.m., can enjoy several innings in natural light. But under standard time, games would likely need to rely on artificial lighting after just an inning or two.
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine formally endorsed permanent standard time in 2020, with the American Academy of Neurology joining in 2023. Supporters argue that aligning schedules with “solar noon,” when the sun is at its highest point, promotes better health. During standard time, solar noon is around 12 p.m., while under daylight saving time, it occurs closer to 1 p.m. This misalignment forces people to wake up earlier than is natural for their bodies, making mornings particularly difficult.
Dr. Karin Johnson, a neurologist and sleep expert, emphasized the importance of syncing with the body’s circadian rhythms. “We don’t need 3 a.m. sunrises, but we do need the sun to align with our bodies,” she said, pointing out that daylight saving time disrupts natural sleep patterns.
Trump’s pledge to end daylight saving time is especially surprising because it conflicts with the preferences of many within his own party. Just two years ago, the Senate passed legislation to make daylight saving time permanent, though the bill did not advance. Senator Marco Rubio, a vocal supporter of daylight saving time, sponsored the bill, and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has long argued that longer daylight in the evening reduces traffic accidents, especially among pedestrians and cyclists.
If daylight saving time is abolished, infrastructure improvements will be necessary, according to IIHS spokesperson Joseph Young. Communities will need to invest in better lighting and safer roads to protect vulnerable road users during the earlier sunsets.
Some business interests also support daylight saving time, believing it can boost after-work commerce. A survey conducted by YouGov in March 2023 found that 50% of respondents favored permanent daylight saving time, while only 31% supported permanent standard time.
While daylight saving time is often associated with the fun and warmth of summer, experts like Dr. Johnson warn that it isn’t always beneficial. The U.S. briefly tried year-round daylight saving time in the 1970s, but the experiment was unpopular and ended after only one year. Now, many experts believe that the emotional ties to summer and daylight saving are clouding people's judgment.
Senator Tom Cotton has pointed out that the 1974 experiment proved unpopular and has voiced his support for permanent standard time. "The only sensible and durable way to stop the biannual time change is to make Standard Time permanent," he said.
Polling suggests that many Americans are simply tired of switching clocks twice a year. In a 2003 YouGov poll, 62% of respondents said they wanted to eliminate the time changes altogether, while only 31% were content with the current system.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen whether the U.S. will finally move to permanent standard time—or continue shifting the clocks forward and backward twice a year.
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