Daylight Saving Time Ends: Here’s Why Americans Still Change Clocks Twice A Year

Daylight Saving Time 2025: As Americans prepare to set their clocks back this weekend, the nation is once again divided over a century-old ritual that many say has outlived its purpose, Daylight Saving Time (DST).

At 2 a.m. on Sunday (local time), clocks across most of the United States turned back one hour, marking the official end of daylight saving time and the return to standard time. The change brings an extra hour of sleep, but also darker evenings and shorter days through the winter months.

Why The Clocks Change Twice A Year

Daylight Saving Time was first introduced in 1918 through the Standard Time Act to conserve energy and make better use of daylight during longer summer days. It was briefly repealed after World War I, reinstated during World War II, and later standardized under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which set consistent start and end dates across the country.

The current schedule, beginning the second Sunday in March and ending the first Sunday in November, has been in place since 2007. However, Hawaii, most of Arizona, and US territories like Puerto Rico, Guam, and the US Virgin Islands remain on standard time year-round.

Indian Man Shares His Experience

According to a new AP-NORC poll, only 12 per cent of Americans still favor the twice-yearly clock changes. Nearly half say they oppose the system, while about 40 per cent remain neutral. Many would rather the nation stick to one time all year, though they differ on which one.

“I grew up in India, where the clocks never change,” said Pranava Jayanti, a 31-year-old Los Angeles resident who moved to the US for graduate studies. “When my relatives told me about daylight saving, I thought I was prepared, but when it actually happened, it still took me by surprise. Suddenly, it was dark so early in the evening,” he added.

Jayanti is among the growing number of residents who find the seasonal shift confusing and unnecessary. “It’s strange adjusting to something that feels so artificial,” he added.

Push To Make It Permanent

The US Senate passed the “Sunshine Protection Act” in 2022, aiming to make daylight saving time permanent and end the biannual clock changes. But the bill stalled in the House of Representatives. Several states have already passed local measures supporting permanent daylight saving, yet federal approval remains necessary before any nationwide change can take effect.

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Though public opinion remains split. About 56 per cent of adults say they would prefer permanent daylight saving time, which means lighter evenings and darker mornings, while 40 per cent favor standard time, which gives brighter mornings and earlier sunsets.

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Scientists and health professionals say sticking to one fixed time would be better for public health. Research from Stanford University found that keeping a consistent year-round schedule supports the body’s circadian rhythm, and that standard time may be slightly healthier because it offers more morning light.