President Donald Trump urged the Senate to pass the Sunshine Protection Act "ASAP," saying Americans are fed up with changing their clocks twice a year and arguing that permanent daylight saving time would improve safety, health and economic activity.
Trump Presses Senate To End Clock Changes
"People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year," Trump wrote Tuesday on Truth Social. "It is foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly." He asked Republican senators to release their holds and added, "Leave it as it is now, and never change again."
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 4, 2026
The appeal follows the House’s 308-117 passage of the bill on July 14. The measure would keep daylight saving time year-round for most Americans and end the November return to standard time. It now faces an uncertain Senate path despite its bipartisan margin.
Trump said an extra hour of evening sunlight could reduce robberies, murders and traffic crashes, make children’s trips home safer and boost restaurants, retail, tourism and sports. He also linked clock changes to anxiety, cardiac problems, strokes and seasonal depression.
Health Debate Complicates Permanent Daylight Time
Research supports concerns about the abrupt spring clock transition, which disrupts sleep and has been associated with health and traffic risks. However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine favors permanent standard time, not permanent daylight saving time, because morning light better aligns with human circadian rhythms.
That split defines the debate. Supporters emphasize later sunsets and commercial benefits, while critics warn of darker winter mornings, particularly in northern states and western parts of time zones. The United States tried year-round daylight saving time during the 1970s energy crisis, but Congress ended the experiment early after complaints about dark mornings.
States Await Congress As Opposition Grows
State legislatures have not waited for Washington. Nineteen states have enacted measures supporting permanent daylight saving time if Congress authorizes it, while others are considering permanent standard time. Hawaii and most of Arizona already avoid the seasonal clock change.
An AP-NORC survey found only 12% of Americans supported retaining the current twice-yearly system. Forty-seven percent opposed it, while 40% had no opinion.
Trump previously called the proposal a "popular, common-sense reform."
Image via Shutterstock
