Senate Blocks Trump's Push to Make Daylight Saving Time Permanent

Americans across the country will turn their clocks back one hour early Sunday, a routine that will likely continue for at least another year. The Senate is expected to let a House-passed bill expire without a vote, a move that defies President Donald Trump and leaves the twice-yearly time change in place.

The legislation would make daylight saving time the permanent national standard. Proponents argue this shift would keep daylight later into the afternoon. Critics point out that for residents in northern states, the change would mean sunrises arriving after 9 a.m.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has led the opposition. He noted that Congress has tried permanent daylight saving time before and repealed it after winter sunrises became too late. Cotton is a member of the GOP leadership and became a target of Trump's pressure earlier this month. The president posted his personal cellphone number on social media and told Cotton to "GET IT DONE!"

Trump has continued to push the issue this week. On Truth Social, he wrote that the Senate is letting the bill die despite majority support. He argued that more afternoon light benefits commuters and that "CRIMINALS DON’T LIKE WORKING IN THE LIGHT." The president, an avid golfer, also cited the safety risks of changing time on high buildings and the inconvenience of adjusting clocks manually.

Republican senators from colder states are joining Cotton in blocking the measure. Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D., said the change would send children to school in the dark. Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., described the House bill as a "non-starter" for Senate leadership. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, was more direct, stating there was "no way" the bill would pass soon.

Public support for the current system is low. An AP-NORC poll last year found that only 12% of adults favored keeping the status quo, while nearly half opposed it. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine support a single time. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has championed the change since he signed a similar law as governor in 2018.

Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., supports the measure, saying the current system harms health and the economy. The Senate is scheduled to return to Washington after the Nov. 3 midterm election. Leaders expect the bill will not reach the floor before the session ends.