Trump’s taking aim.
President-elect Donald Trump has proposed ending the practice of daylight saving time, calling it inconvenient and costly to the nation. In a recent social media post, Trump pledged that his party would work to eliminate the time change if he assumes office again. Daylight saving time, which involves setting clocks forward in spring and back in fall, was originally implemented during World War II as a way to maximize daylight in summer months but has since been criticized for its relevance in modern times.
Over the years, lawmakers have occasionally introduced measures to abolish daylight saving time. A prominent recent effort, the Sunshine Protection Act, sought to make daylight saving time permanent. The bipartisan bill, spearheaded by Florida Senator Marco Rubio, gained initial support but eventually stalled. Supporters of the legislation, including Senator Rick Scott, have argued that the twice-a-year clock changes are outdated and no longer serve a practical purpose.
Health experts, however, have countered that permanent standard time would be a more suitable approach. Organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine advocate for eliminating time changes altogether, emphasizing that standard time better aligns with the sun’s natural patterns and human biological rhythms. They argue that the disruptions caused by switching clocks can have negative effects on sleep and overall health.
Globally, most countries do not observe daylight saving time, and for those that do, the dates for the time changes differ, creating unnecessary complications in time coordination. Critics of the practice believe that removing the time change would simplify schedules and bring consistency across the board.
As debate continues, the future of daylight saving time remains uncertain. While some push for permanent daylight saving time, others emphasize the benefits of sticking to standard time year-round. Regardless of the approach, there is growing consensus that the current system of biannual clock changes needs reevaluation.
