Most of the United States turned back clocks one hour at 2 a.m. local time Sunday, marking the end of daylight saving time for 2026 and the return to standard time. The change restored an hour of sleep for millions and shifted daylight hours earlier in the day, with sunrise and sunset occurring one hour earlier than the previous evening.
Congress advances but Senate stalls bill to make daylight saving time permanent
A bipartisan proposal, the Sunshine Protection Act, passed the U.S. House in July and would eliminate the twice-yearly clock change by adopting permanent daylight saving time. The bill has support from former President Donald Trump and some lawmakers, but it remains stalled in the Senate as of November 2025. If enacted, the law would keep clocks set forward year-round, resulting in later sunrises and earlier sunsets during winter months. Opponents, including Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), argue the change would force schoolchildren to commute in darkness during winter mornings.
Health and safety concerns fuel debate over timekeeping
Advocates for permanent daylight saving time cite benefits such as longer evening daylight for recreation and commerce, while critics—including sleep scientists and medical professionals—argue that permanent standard time would better align with natural light cycles and improve public health. Research cited by opponents suggests permanent daylight saving time could increase vehicle collisions and disrupt sleep patterns, particularly in northern regions where winter mornings remain dark later.
History and purpose of daylight saving time
The U.S. first adopted daylight saving time in 1918 during World War I as a fuel-saving measure, inspired by similar policies in Europe. The practice was repealed after the war but reinstated during World War II and again in the 1970s amid an energy crisis. Since 1966, federal law has set uniform start and end dates for daylight saving time, though states retain some flexibility in observance. The current schedule runs from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
What to expect after the time change
With the return to standard time, mornings will see earlier sunrise, and evenings will grow darker sooner. For example, in Boston, sunrise shifted from 7:16 a.m. to 6:17 a.m. Sunday, while sunset moved from 5:39 p.m. to 4:37 p.m. Most digital devices, including smartphones, adjusted automatically, but owners of analog clocks were advised to manually set them back one hour.