Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday as Debate Over Permanent Time Continues
As clocks fall back this weekend, the future of Daylight Saving Time remains uncertain amid ongoing debate in Congress.
Daylight Saving Time (DST) will end on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks will shift back one hour to 1 a.m. This transition to Standard Time marks the end of the period when clocks are advanced by one hour, a practice that some experts liken to experiencing "an hour of jet lag."
Sleep medicine physicians generally find the transition to Standard Time to be easier for most people, as it aligns more closely with natural circadian rhythms. Dr. Andrea Matsumura, a sleep medicine physician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, suggests that adjusting to the loss of an hour during the spring transition to DST requires more effort. For the fall transition, she recommends sticking to a regular sleep schedule and continuing practices that promote good sleep, such as getting morning daylight exposure and avoiding late-afternoon caffeine.
Currently, federal law permits states to opt out of DST and remain on Standard Time year-round. Hawaii and most of Arizona are the only states that have chosen this option. However, federal law does not allow states to observe DST permanently.
The Sunshine Protection Act, a bill passed by the House with bipartisan support in July, aims to change this by establishing DST as the permanent time nationwide. Under this proposed law, states could still opt out and remain on Standard Time permanently.
The bill's path forward in the Senate remains uncertain. Senate Majority Leader John Thune has stated that there is "no clear path forward or consensus" on the measure. Some senators, like Tom Cotton of Arkansas, have criticized the bill, citing concerns that permanent DST would lead to much later sunrises in some regions, causing commutes and school days to begin in darkness.
Sleep experts, including the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, also object to the bill, arguing that permanent Standard Time is optimal for health and safety due to its alignment with human circadian rhythms.
Despite opposition, the push for permanent DST continues. Former President Donald Trump has publicly supported the Sunshine Protection Act, recently accusing Senator Cotton of hindering its progress and urging his supporters to contact Cotton to express their support for the bill.