Donald Trump, the incoming President of the United States, has declared his intention to end daylight saving time (DST), labelling the practice “inconvenient” and “very costly” to Americans.
Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump promised that the Republican Party would work to end the time changes, which he argued lack significant public support.
DST, which involves shifting clocks forward in spring and back in autumn to maximise natural daylight, is followed in a third of the world’s countries. However, it has long been a contentious issue in the US, with advocates on both sides.
Proponents of standard time say it promotes better sleep and overall health, while supporters of permanent DST highlight its benefits for brighter evenings, reduced crime, fewer traffic accidents, and economic advantages.
This is not the first push to overhaul the system. In 2022, the Sunshine Protection Act, introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, sought to make DST permanent. While the bill passed the Senate, it never reached President Biden’s desk. Rubio, a prominent advocate of permanent DST, has now been tapped as Trump’s pick for Secretary of State.
The US began experimenting with seasonal clock changes in 1918 during World War I to conserve fuel. Although initially unpopular with farmers and repealed after the war, DST returned during World War II and was codified into law in 1966, with states like Hawaii and most of Arizona choosing to opt out.
Globally, some nations, including Mexico and Jordan, have recently abolished DST, while others, like Turkey and Russia, have implemented permanent DST.
Research by Joan Costa-i-Font of the London School of Economics found that DST negatively impacts health and mental well-being, leading to increased fatigue and stress. Ending DST could boost economic output by €754 ($792; £627) per person annually, the study suggests.
While approximately two-thirds of Americans favour making DST permanent, according to a Monmouth University poll, Trump’s proposal has reignited debate over how best to structure timekeeping to balance health, safety, and economic concerns.
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