Trump Advocates for Permanent Daylight Saving Time
President Donald Trump has expressed support for making daylight saving time a permanent fixture in the United States, coinciding with a vote in the Energy and Commerce Committee on the Solar Protection Act.
This announcement came from his Truth Social account on Thursday.
He noted, “Today in the Energy and Commerce Committee, there was a significant vote (48-1!) for legislation including the Sunshine Protection Act to make Daylight Saving Time permanent! This is crucial. It costs individuals, cities, and states hundreds of millions of dollars each year to adjust their clocks,” he shared.
Trump emphasized that many clocks are installed on towers, which leads to significant costs for the necessary equipment to make these adjustments twice annually. He mentioned that the House intends to link the Sunshine Protection Act to the Highway Bill.
He also committed to “work hard to sign the Sunshine Protection Act,” suggesting that it would alleviate the biannual clock changes for people.
He remarked, “This could be a nice victory for the Republican Party as well. Accept it! We’re choosing the more popular option, Saving Daylight. It provides longer, brighter days. Who can argue against that? This is straightforward!”
Since his inauguration, Trump has been advocating for an end to the clock changes, but despite some progress on the issue, its implementation remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, a 2008 analysis from the National Bureau of Economic Research indicated that the effectiveness of daylight saving time might be more complex than intended. The study found that, “Contrary to policy intent, DST increases residential electricity demand by about 1%,” as previously reported by Breitbart News. While there’s a reduction in lighting demand, heating and cooling needs significantly rise.
Moreover, several health and safety experts express concerns regarding daylight saving time. The Fatal Accident Reporting System shows a 17% increase in fatal crashes associated with the clock change. The report states that traffic fatalities on the Monday following the shift remain elevated for several days after the adjustment. Additionally, there are indications that changes in daylight saving time could elevate the risk of strokes due to disrupted sleep patterns.
