As winter’s chill begins to fade across the United States, many Americans are preparing for the annual ritual of moving their clocks ahead—an event that sparks both anticipation for longer evenings and frustration over lost sleep. In 2026, daylight saving time (DST) officially begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 8, when clocks will "spring forward" one hour to 3 a.m. This change, observed by most states, marks the start of approximately eight months of extended daylight hours, culminating when clocks "fall back" at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, returning to standard time and granting a precious extra hour of sleep.
According to the US Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department, this adjustment means that, for one night, Americans will lose an hour of rest. As the days grow longer through spring and summer, the initial sleep deficit is often offset by the chance to enjoy more daylight in the evenings. The first day of astronomical spring, the vernal equinox, will arrive on Friday, March 20, 2026, at 10:46 a.m. ET, bringing nearly equal hours of day and night across the globe, as reported by Mid-Atlantic Connect.
Yet, this biannual clock change is far from universally loved. The practice of DST has deep roots in American history, but in recent years, it’s become a hot topic for lawmakers, scientists, and ordinary citizens alike. The original intent behind DST was to save energy, a concept first introduced in Germany in 1916 during World War I and adopted by the U.S. in 1918 as a wartime measure, notes CU Boulder sleep researcher Kenneth Wright. Over the decades, the rationale has shifted, with proponents now touting benefits like increased opportunities for outdoor activities after work and potential reductions in traffic injuries and crime, as outlined by the Department of Transportation.
Despite these arguments, the twice-yearly time change remains contentious. Some advocates, such as those behind the savestandardtime initiative, argue that permanent standard time would better align with our biological circadian rhythms, improving safety for school children in the mornings and supporting overall health. Others, including many in the business and recreation sectors, prefer permanent daylight saving time for its later sunsets and longer evenings.
This debate has not gone unnoticed in the halls of government. In recent years, the U.S. Congress has seen repeated efforts to end the practice of changing clocks twice a year. The Sunshine Protection Act, a bill designed to make DST permanent nationwide, passed the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the House. It was reintroduced in 2025, yet still has not become law. According to Statesman Journal, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is one of 18 co-sponsors of this legislation, reflecting a growing bipartisan push for change.
At the state level, the movement is just as lively. In 2019, Oregon passed its own bill to adopt permanent DST, but like similar laws in Texas, Alabama, Colorado, and Florida, it requires federal approval to take effect. Texas, for example, passed House Bill 1393 in 2025, which would create a year-round "Texas Time"—but only if Congress allows it. Meanwhile, Pennsylvania has introduced and debated bills to end clock changes, most recently passing a Senate resolution in March 2026 urging Congress to act, as reported by Mid-Atlantic Connect. In total, at least 29 states have introduced legislation aimed at ending the biannual clock-switching ritual.
The Uniform Time Act of 1966 currently governs how states observe time, allowing them to remain on standard time year-round or switch between standard and daylight saving time, but not to adopt DST permanently without federal consent. This means that, for now, most Americans will continue to set their clocks forward in March and back in November. Notably, Hawaii and most of Arizona have opted out of DST altogether, a right granted under the Uniform Time Act. The Navajo Nation, which spans parts of Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico, remains an exception within Arizona, observing DST while the rest of the state does not. U.S. territories such as American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.
Political leaders have weighed in with their own, sometimes conflicting, opinions. Former President Donald Trump, for instance, has taken multiple stances on the issue. In April 2025, he urged Congress to make DST permanent, declaring on Truth Social, “The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day. Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!” Yet, only months earlier, he had called for standard time to be made permanent instead, and at one point described the issue as "50/50," acknowledging the divided public sentiment.
For many, the annual time change is more than just a minor annoyance. Studies cited by Texas State Senator Nathan Johnson highlight how standard time may be healthier, aligning more closely with natural sleep-wake cycles. Meanwhile, the Old Farmer’s Almanac reminds readers that the practice was originally intended to maximize daylight during summer evenings and winter mornings—a goal that may not hold the same relevance in today’s society.
Historically, the U.S. has experimented with permanent DST before. During the 1973 oil embargo, Congress made DST year-round for two years in an effort to conserve energy, but the law was quickly repealed after proving unpopular and ineffective. Since 2005, the current schedule—starting on the second Sunday in March and ending on the first Sunday in November—has been in place after Congress amended the Uniform Time Act.
So, what’s next for daylight saving time in America? Unless Congress acts to change the law, the familiar ritual of springing forward and falling back will continue. Each year, as the debate reignites, more states join the chorus calling for reform, but for now, the clock keeps ticking as it always has. Whether you view the time change as a welcome sign of spring or a dreaded disruption to your sleep, it remains a uniquely American tradition—one that, for better or worse, endures.
As March 8 approaches, Americans everywhere can look forward to brighter evenings, a little less sleep, and—perhaps—a renewed conversation about what time it really ought to be.