(NEXSTAR) — Days before President-elect Donald Trump is set to secure a second term in office, daylight saving time ends in much of the United States, ushering in the winter tradition of early sunsets. Now, President Trump is taking aim at the twice-yearly tradition.
In a recent post on Truth Social, President Trump said Republicans will push to eliminate “inconvenient” and “costly” practices. This comes after Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, leaders of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), called for: abolish Summer time.
President Trump has not said whether he is on the side of permanent daylight saving time or standard time, but there is growing interest in abolishing the practice. Polls show Americans favor permanent daylight saving time, and multiple state and federal lawmakers agree.
But health experts say a permanent standard time would “arguably” be better for us. I've seen permanent daylight flounder before.
Relationship with the clock
In 1918, the United States began implementing daylight saving time as a wartime energy-saving measure, but it lasted for a long time. only 1 year. It was revived in 1942 during World War II, but it was very confusing because it allowed states and local governments to decide when to switch between daylight saving time and standard time.
In 1966, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act, which standardized twice-yearly clock changes. However, during the national energy crisis of 1973, the United States again adopted year-round daylight saving time.
President Richard Nixon was emergency daylight saving time bill To the law. Initially, the work received positive reviews, and by December 1973 it was said to have received an approval rating of nearly 80%. new york times.
But it didn't last long.
Soon, parents were sending their children to school in the morning darkness, raising safety concerns as the sun did not rise in some parts of the country until nearly 9 a.m. There have been multiple accidents in which children commuting to school have been hit by cars across the country. 8 people killed in Florida.
The US Department of Transportation found no clear evidence of traffic accidents associated with year-round daylight saving time, but also found energy savings between 0.4% and 1.5%. However, public opinion against the implementation of daylight saving time had fallen to 42% by February 1974. .
Eight months later, in October 1974, President Gerald Ford signed a bill establishing standard time in the United States for four months of the year. We've been on pretty much the same schedule ever since.
Why experts seek standard time throughout the year
This is a permanent standard time agreed upon by medical experts, primarily due to the increased amount of sunlight we receive in the morning.
Dr. Alaina Tierni, a clinical health psychologist who specializes in behavioral sleep medicine at the Cleveland Clinic's Sleep Disorders Center, says improved circadian rhythms can also improve other aspects of your health, such as blood pressure, heart rate, and cortisol levels. He said it was sexual. Nexstar. Studies have also shown a relationship between sleep and circadian rhythm deprivation, mental health problems, drug use, speeding, delinquent behavior, educational performance, and employment pay.
Can the watch be locked?
In short, yes. That would require a parliamentary vote. Many states have already enacted legislation requiring Congress to do so.
Several bills have been introduced to make daylight saving time permanent, but all have stalled. However, Republicans will control both houses of Congress in 2025, and President Trump's comments could prompt them to pass the bill.
Daylight saving time is currently scheduled to begin on March 9, 2025.
