Trump pledges to eliminate 'expensive' daylight saving time
Trump Calls for End to "Costly and Inconvenient" Daylight Saving Time
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to abolish daylight saving time (DST), calling it "inconvenient" and "very costly" for Americans.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump criticized the practice, stating that while it has "a small but strong constituency, it shouldn't," and promised that his Republican Party would work to end it.
DST involves setting clocks forward by one hour in spring and back in autumn to make better use of daylight. It is currently observed in about one-third of the world’s countries, including most of Europe. However, debates over its usefulness have persisted for years in the United States.
Supporters of standard time argue that morning daylight improves health, aligning better with natural sleep cycles and reducing fatigue. They point out that shifting the clocks twice a year disrupts sleep patterns, which can affect mental and physical well-being.
Conversely, advocates for permanent DST emphasize the benefits of longer evening daylight, such as reduced energy consumption, lower crime rates, and fewer road accidents. Both sides argue their preference would boost the economy.
This is not the first attempt to change how Americans observe time. In 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, proposed making DST permanent. The bill passed in the Senate but failed to advance in the House. Rubio, now nominated by Trump to serve as Secretary of State, has been a prominent advocate for reforming the practice.
The US first adopted DST during World War I to conserve fuel. Although repealed after the war, it was reintroduced during World War II and eventually standardized in 1966, with states allowed to opt out. Currently, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe DST.
Globally, some nations have abandoned the practice. Mexico ended DST in 2022, except in regions near the US border, while Jordan also ceased observing it. Countries like Turkey and Russia have opted for permanent DST instead.
Studies have highlighted the drawbacks of changing clocks. Research by Joan Costa-i-Font of the London School of Economics found that eliminating DST could boost economic productivity by €754 ($792) per person annually. His study also linked DST to negative effects on health, including increased stress, fatigue, and disrupted sleep.
Public opinion in the US leans toward reform. A Monmouth University poll found that about two-thirds of Americans favor making DST permanent, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction with the twice-yearly time changes.
Trump’s proposal to end DST aims to address these concerns and align with the growing call for a more consistent and beneficial timekeeping system.
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