Daylight Saving Time: It ends Nov. 1 this year, but debate rages over if should it be permanent

The long-simmering debate over daylight saving time came to a head over the weekend, with President Donald Trump posting Republican Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton's cellphone number on Truth Social and urging Americans to persuade the lawmaker to support the latest bill to end the clock-changing. 

The president argued that the twice-yearly changing of clocks is costly and creates nationwide stress, blaming Cotton, in part, for blocking the Sunshine Protection Act that would make daylight saving time permanent. Cotton responded that his constituents don't want their kids going to school in "the pitch dark."

Based on a history of Gallup polls, neither do most Americans, with lawmakers unable to pass recent legislation abolishing the practice. 

As the debate rages, daylight saving time is due to end at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1. Opponents have argued against the change for a variety of reasons, including health experts who say the change disrupts circadian rhythms and sleep patterns and has been linked to heart attacks and car crashes involving tired drivers. While the "fall back" change means an extra hour of sleep, the experts say it's still bad for the health of Americans.

Asked if they support The Sunshine Protection Act, the office of Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer declined to comment Monday, while the office of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand referred Newsday to a statement she issued on the act — in March 15, 2022.

In that statement, Gillibrand wrote she "hoped the sun is setting on this dated practice," noting: "There should be no daylight between the House and Senate on this issue. Times have changed, and this commonsense legislation will end a disorienting and tired tradition. Making daylight saving time permanent could help reduce energy costs and seasonal depression." 

A history of polls, dating back more than a century, with support for permanent daylight saving time — that is, an end to switching of clocks — blowing in the wind. One moment, in favor; the next, not.

The last move to enact permanent daylight saving time came during the Nixon administration, with President Richard M. Nixon arguing in late 1973 that it was needed to combat the Arab oil embargo and the Middle East gas crisis.

Before permanent daylight saving time was enacted, Gallup said 57% of Americans supported the move. Once it happened, opposition was so rampant Congress was forced to reverse the move.

The debate goes back further, to just before America was plunged into World War II, Gallup polled Americans on their support for year-round daylight saving time. Opposition ran 53% to 36%, with 12% of Americans undecided. Following the attack of Dec. 7, 1941? Support had all but reversed, with 57% in favor — and 30% opposed.

"Wartime" saving time was how then-President Franklin D. Roosevelt billed it, according to a historical piece found in the Gallup Vault on daylight saving time, the president promoting a measure to eliminate the twice-a-year changing of the clocks as an aid to national security and defense.

When the war ended? States were free to adopt their own measures on whether to continue the practice. Or, not.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com

John Valenti, a Newsday reporter since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press, Society of the Silurians and National Headliner Awards for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing. He is the author of “Swee'pea,” about New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. His debut crime novel, “For Nothing Is Hidden,” rooted in 1950s Long Island, was released in October 2025.