Donald Trump, in his typical no-nonsense style, has once again waded into the inefficiency quagmire, this time taking aim at daylight saving time. Describing it as an outdated, pointless exercise that costs more than it’s worth, Trump declared that the Republican Party would work to eliminate the biannual clock-changing ritual. Naturally, this set off yet another round of debate about whether daylight saving time is a charming tradition or an unnecessary nuisance Americans have long outgrown. One thing’s for sure: Trump knows how to put a spotlight on government quirks most people grumble about but never question.
Daylight saving time has been a fixture in American life since the 1960s, when someone thought fiddling with the clocks would maximize daylight and save energy. Over the decades, though, enthusiasm has waned as critics highlight the disruption to sleep schedules and the questionable energy-saving claims. Some lawmakers argue for making daylight saving time permanent, others want to stick with standard time year-round, and—true to form—the Biden administration has simply shrugged and avoided taking a clear stance. Nothing screams “leadership” like silence on whether Americans should have to spring forward or fall back.
Back in 2022, the U.S. Senate managed to unanimously pass a bill to make daylight saving time permanent, a shocking act of bipartisanship that left people wondering if pigs were flying somewhere. But, as usual, progress came to a screeching halt in the House, where lawmakers couldn’t agree on the simplest of reforms. Earlier this year, another group of senators tried to reignite the push, but the effort has crawled forward at a pace that would make a sloth blush. Congress, in its infinite wisdom, seems content to let this debate collect dust, even as Americans roll their eyes every March and November.
Those in favor of permanent daylight saving time argue that longer, brighter evenings would boost both economic activity and public morale during the gloomy winter months. Critics, on the other hand, warn that the later sunrise would mean kids walking to school in the dark, which isn’t exactly ideal. Others suggest scrapping the entire system altogether, pointing to studies that link the clock changes to increased health issues, disrupted sleep, and a productivity dip. Despite all these arguments, Congress has avoided holding meaningful hearings on the issue for years, proving once again that when it comes to addressing a common-sense problem, Washington’s gears grind to a halt.
It’s not as if this debate is new. Daylight saving time was tried during World War II and again in the 1970s during the energy crisis, and both times it flopped spectacularly. Americans complained about dark mornings, minimal energy savings, and general inconvenience until the policy was reversed. More recently, about 30 states have introduced legislation to ditch the clock-changing routine, but most are waiting for neighboring states to jump on board. While Trump’s push to abolish daylight saving time may resonate with a nation tired of losing an hour of sleep every spring, no one should expect Congress to act swiftly. If there’s one thing Washington excels at, it’s turning a straightforward fix into a never-ending saga.
