The U.S. Senate appears unlikely to pass legislation making daylight saving time permanent before the end of the year, despite pressure from President Donald Trump. As the nation prepares to turn back clocks for the end of daylight saving time, several senators are signaling opposition to a House-passed bill that would eliminate the twice-yearly time change.
Opponents of the permanent switch, primarily some Republican senators, argue that darker winter mornings would create safety concerns for commuters and schoolchildren. Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas, a vocal opponent, noted that past attempts at permanent daylight saving time were repealed due to issues with "absurdly late sunrises in the winter."
"You’d be sending kids to school in the dark," said Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., echoing concerns about early morning darkness in northern states. President Trump has been a strong proponent of making daylight saving time permanent, arguing that more afternoon daylight is preferable and citing personal benefits like extended golfing hours. He has publicly urged senators, including Cotton, to pass the bill.
However, Trump's advocacy has not swayed many in the Senate. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., indicated the House bill is considered a "non-starter" by Senate Republican leadership. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, stated unequivocally that the bill would not pass the Senate soon. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has not publicly commented but has voted against similar measures in the past.
Historically, the U.S. experimented with permanent daylight saving time in 1974 during an energy crisis, but it was repealed by October of that year due to public backlash over dark winter mornings, particularly for children. Polls indicate that a significant majority of Americans dislike the current system of changing clocks twice a year. An AP-NORC poll last year found only 12% of adults favored the current system, with nearly half opposing it. Proponents of a single, year-round time include the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
Some lawmakers, like Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., have actively supported making daylight saving time permanent. Scott, who signed similar legislation as Florida's governor, has led Senate efforts to end the time change, stating it's an "unnecessary, decades-old practice that’s more of an annoyance to families than benefit to them." Democrats, such as Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts, have also expressed support, citing the negative impacts of the time change on the economy, health, and happiness, and the desire to avoid "4 p.m. winter sunsets."