'A very costly event’: Trump renews call to end Daylight Saving Time; Know about the practice of changing clocks

US President Donald Trump - File Photo

US President Donald Trump has reignited the debate over Daylight Saving Time, urging the Congress to push for more “daylight at the end of a day” and end the practice of changing clocks twice a year.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump called the twice-a-year time change a “big inconvenience” and claimed it’s “A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!” for the government. “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,” he wrote.

Trump’s remarks come amid renewed bipartisan calls in Congress to make daylight saving time permanent. In recent years, lawmakers have introduced bills such as the "Sunshine Protection Act" to end the biannual time shift, citing benefits like improved public health, reduced energy consumption, and stronger economic activity during longer daylight hours.

While the bill passed the Senate in 2022, it failed to gain traction in the House. Trump’s latest comments could add momentum to the effort as the public and political pressure builds to abandon the decades-old system.

In the United States, daylight saving time starts on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. The time changes take place at 2:00 am local time.

What is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight Saving Time is the practice of moving clocks forward by one hour in the spring ("spring forward") and back by one hour in the fall ("fall back") to make better use of daylight during the longer days of summer. The idea dates back to World War I as a way to conserve energy, but it has long been debated in terms of its actual benefits—and downsides.

Proponents of DST argue that by extending the daylight hours in the evening, people are less reliant dependent on artificial lighting, potentially reducing energy consumption. Subsequently, longer evenings provide more time for recreation, leisure and outdoor activities. They also contend that more daylight during peak commuting hours could lead to fewer accidents.

On the contrary, critics point to several drawbacks. They claim that the abrupt shift in time can disrupt sleep cycles, leading to fatigue and reduced productivity. Some studies have also linked DST to an increased risk of heart attacks and other health issues.

Historical Context

While the idea of DST can be tracked back to the 19th century, it gained traction during World War I, when European states sought strategies to conserve fuel. Germany was the first country to adopt daylight saving time in 1916, and the US followed in 1918.

While the practice was repealed after the War, it returned during World War II, and was made permanent in 1966, though states could opt out.

Which countries follow DST?

DST is observed in many countries worldwide, including much of Europe. According to the Pew Research Centre, around one-third of the world’s nations follow the practice.

In the United States, it is practised everywhere except in Hawaii and most of Arizona. Along with the bulk of the US, DTS is practised in most of Europe, parts of Canada, Australia, Latin America, Brazil, and the Caribbean.

At the same time, plenty of places around the world have opted out of it entirely. These include all of Asia and most of Africa. Over the past 10 years, Azerbaijan, Iran, Jordan, Namibia, Russia, Samoa, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay, and most of Mexico have all ended the practice, according to the Pew Research Center.

India does not follow daylight saving time; countries near the Equator do not experience high variations in daytime hours between seasons.

Why Trump wants to abolish DST? 

Trump had announced during his first term in 2019 that he supported making daylight saving time permanent.

Three years later, in 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bill — introduced by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, now Trump’s nominee for secretary of state — that would have made daylight saving time permanent starting in 2023. However, the House, led by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi, never voted on companion legislation, forestalling the effort.

Now, with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the legislation could face better chances of success.

Notably, health experts have said that lawmakers have it backward and that standard time should be made permanent, says a report by the Associated Press.

Some health groups, including the American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine, have said that it’s time to do away with time switches and that sticking with standard time aligns better with the sun — and human biology, the report adds.