In a recent announcement on his platform Truth Social, President-elect Donald Trump has declared his plan to abolish daylight saving time (DST), referring to it as "very costly" and "inconvenient." He argues that, while there exists "a small but strong constituency" favoring the tradition, the time-honored practice should be discontinued altogether. His Republican party is expected to push forward with this initiative.
Daylight saving time involves adjusting clocks forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn to maximize daylight usage. According to the Pew Research Center, it is practiced in roughly one-third of the world’s countries, including a majority of European nations. However, the U.S. has seen long-standing debate over its necessity, with advocates for standard time suggesting it promotes better health by enhancing morning light and improving sleep schedules.
On the other side of the debate, proponents of permanent DST argue that extended evening daylight can lead to lower crime rates and decreased car accidents while conserving energy. Each faction maintains that their preferred approach would boost the U.S. economy.
Trump's call to end DST is not unprecedented; several past attempts have sought to reform this biannual clock change. A 2022 bill titled the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, aimed to cement daylight saving time permanently but ultimately stalled before reaching President Joe Biden. Rubio has recently been nominated by Trump to serve as secretary of state in his upcoming administration.
The history of DST in the U.S. dates back to its introduction in 1918 during World War I, primarily intended to save fuel. Initially met with backlash, especially from farmers, it was repealed post-war but saw a resurgence during World War II. In 1966, DST was formalized, with states retaining the option to abstain, which Arizona and Hawaii have exercised.
Research led by Joan Costa-i-Font at the London School of Economics has revealed negative implications of DST on sleep and overall health, contributing to feelings of fatigue and stress. His findings indicate that the discontinuation of DST could enhance economic productivity by €754 (approximately $792) per person annually.
While DST has faced scrutiny globally, with countries like Mexico and Jordan abolishing the practice last year, others, including Turkey and Russia, have applied permanent daylight saving measures. Interestingly, recent polling by Monmouth University indicates that around two-thirds of Americans support making daylight saving time permanent, showcasing a nation divided on the issue and anxious for change.
Daylight saving time involves adjusting clocks forward one hour in spring and back one hour in autumn to maximize daylight usage. According to the Pew Research Center, it is practiced in roughly one-third of the world’s countries, including a majority of European nations. However, the U.S. has seen long-standing debate over its necessity, with advocates for standard time suggesting it promotes better health by enhancing morning light and improving sleep schedules.
On the other side of the debate, proponents of permanent DST argue that extended evening daylight can lead to lower crime rates and decreased car accidents while conserving energy. Each faction maintains that their preferred approach would boost the U.S. economy.
Trump's call to end DST is not unprecedented; several past attempts have sought to reform this biannual clock change. A 2022 bill titled the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, aimed to cement daylight saving time permanently but ultimately stalled before reaching President Joe Biden. Rubio has recently been nominated by Trump to serve as secretary of state in his upcoming administration.
The history of DST in the U.S. dates back to its introduction in 1918 during World War I, primarily intended to save fuel. Initially met with backlash, especially from farmers, it was repealed post-war but saw a resurgence during World War II. In 1966, DST was formalized, with states retaining the option to abstain, which Arizona and Hawaii have exercised.
Research led by Joan Costa-i-Font at the London School of Economics has revealed negative implications of DST on sleep and overall health, contributing to feelings of fatigue and stress. His findings indicate that the discontinuation of DST could enhance economic productivity by €754 (approximately $792) per person annually.
While DST has faced scrutiny globally, with countries like Mexico and Jordan abolishing the practice last year, others, including Turkey and Russia, have applied permanent daylight saving measures. Interestingly, recent polling by Monmouth University indicates that around two-thirds of Americans support making daylight saving time permanent, showcasing a nation divided on the issue and anxious for change.
