Daylight saving time came to an end across most of the United States early Sunday morning, November 2, 2025, as clocks fell back one hour at 2 a.m. This annual ritual, known as the “fall back,” offered Americans a coveted extra hour of sleep but also reignited a longstanding debate about the merits—and headaches—of changing the clocks twice a year. As the nation adjusted to earlier sunsets and brighter mornings, questions swirled once again about whether it’s finally time to put an end to this seasonal time shift for good.
For those who may have missed the switch, the official end of daylight saving time (DST) meant that 2 a.m. suddenly became 1 a.m., giving people an extra hour in bed and, for some, a brief reprieve from the relentless pace of modern life. But as the Indianapolis Star pointed out, the change also means darkness will arrive earlier in the evening, a shift that can be jarring for many. The next time Americans will need to adjust their clocks is March 8, 2026, when DST returns and clocks "spring forward" once more.
Not everyone in the U.S. participates in this biannual dance with time. Hawaii and most of Arizona (with the Navajo Nation as a notable exception) opt out, sticking with standard time year-round. Several U.S. territories—including Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands—also skip daylight saving altogether, according to the Department of Transportation. For residents of these places, the time stays steady, and so do their sleep schedules.
But how did the U.S. get here? The story of daylight saving time is a winding one. Germany first adopted DST in 1916, during World War I, hoping to save energy. The U.S. followed suit a few years later, but the practice was inconsistent and sometimes controversial for decades. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 finally brought order to the chaos, mandating standard time within existing time zones and establishing a permanent, uniform system for when DST would start and end nationwide. As the Bureau of Transportation Statistics notes, this move was spurred in part by the need to coordinate train schedules and improve transportation efficiency.
Interestingly, the timing of the shift—2 a.m. on a Sunday—was chosen to minimize disruption, especially for the railroads. As author Michael Downing explained to Time Magazine, "Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country." It’s a quirky detail that persists today, even as the country’s transportation landscape has changed dramatically.
Despite its long-standing place in American life, daylight saving time has never been universally loved. In fact, many people wrongly believe that farmers were its biggest proponents. According to almanac.com, farmers actually opposed the change, arguing that it benefited office workers and the leisure class rather than those working the land. When the war ended, rural voices grew louder, demanding an end to DST and highlighting the divide between urban and rural America.
Fast forward to the present, and the debate over daylight saving time is as heated as ever. A 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll found that nearly 80% of Americans support changing the current system, with more favoring permanent daylight saving time over standard time. An October 2024 YouGov poll echoed this sentiment, revealing that 63% of Americans want to eliminate the clock changes altogether, while only 17% are in favor of keeping them. The rest remain uncertain, perhaps resigned to the twice-yearly ritual or simply unsure which time system they prefer.
The political battle lines are equally blurry. In 2022, the bipartisan Sunshine Protection Act—which would make daylight saving time permanent—passed the Senate unanimously but failed to advance in the House of Representatives. The bill’s cosponsors, including Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, have continued to push for its passage. As Markey argued in 2024, "It isn't just a nuisance -- changing our clocks also has a very real impact on our economy, our health and our happiness."
President Donald Trump has weighed in on the issue as well, though his stance has shifted over time. In December 2024, he posted on Truth Social, "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 is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation." Yet, earlier in 2025, Trump called the idea of permanent daylight saving time “very popular,” labeling it a “50-50 issue.” The bottom line? Any change would require congressional approval, and as of now, the matter remains unresolved in Washington.
Meanwhile, more than 20 states have passed measures supporting permanent daylight saving time, but without action from Congress, these efforts have no practical effect. States can opt out of DST altogether, as Hawaii and Arizona have done, but they cannot unilaterally decide to observe daylight saving time year-round.
While the politics play out, scientists and health experts are weighing in with their own recommendations. The National Sleep Foundation, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms all advocate for permanent standard time, arguing it aligns better with human biology. Joseph Dzierzewski of the National Sleep Foundation explained to CNET, "There's a mismatch between the outside world and our internal clocks during daylight saving time that can result in some negative health consequences." These include mental health concerns, increased cardiovascular events, and even safety issues for children commuting to school in the dark.
Research from Stanford Medicine in 2025 added to the list of concerns, suggesting that the clock changes may lead to a rise in heart attacks, obesity, and strokes. The cumulative impact on mood and mental health is also significant, with many Americans reporting disruptions to their sleep patterns and daily routines each time the clocks shift.
So, what can people do to ease the transition? Experts recommend establishing healthy sleep habits year-round—exposure to bright morning light, regular physical activity, consistent meal times, and a relaxing bedtime routine can all help. For those especially sensitive to the change, Dzierzewski suggests adjusting bedtime and wake-up time gradually in the days leading up to the switch, moving by 15 minutes per day. Getting outside for sunlight on the morning of the time change can also help reset the body’s internal clock.
Ultimately, the debate over daylight saving time is about more than just hours on a clock. It touches on public health, economic efficiency, and even the rhythms of daily life. As the days grow shorter and the sun sets earlier, Americans are left to ponder whether this will finally be the year Congress acts—or if they’ll be setting their clocks back again come November 2026.
One thing’s for sure: the conversation about daylight saving time is far from over, and for now, the nation remains divided—if a bit better rested—for at least one Sunday morning each fall.
