President-elect Trump Vows to End Daylight Saving Time

President-elect Trump Vows to End Daylight Saving Time \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President-elect Donald Trump pledged to end daylight saving time, citing its inconvenience and cost. Trump’s comments have reignited debates over the practice, which involves moving clocks forward in the spring and back in the fall. While some lawmakers have previously supported making daylight saving time permanent, health experts argue that sticking to standard time better aligns with human biology.

Trump Takes Aim at Daylight Saving Time: Quick Looks

• Trump’s Promise: President-elect Trump calls for abolishing daylight saving time, labeling it outdated.
• Historical Origins: Daylight saving time was introduced in 1942 as a wartime energy-saving measure.
• Legislative History: The Sunshine Protection Act aimed to make daylight saving time permanent but stalled in Congress.
• Expert Recommendations: Health professionals advocate for standard time, citing better alignment with natural light.
• Global Practices: Most countries do not observe daylight saving time; Arizona and Hawaii opt out within the U.S.

Deep Look

President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate daylight saving time, marking a renewed effort to tackle an issue that has sparked debate for decades. In a post on his social media platform, Trump criticized the practice of changing clocks twice a year as both inconvenient and costly.

“The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t!” Trump wrote. “Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation.”

Trump’s remarks come as frustration over the biannual time change continues to grow among Americans, with lawmakers, health experts, and the public weighing in on whether the practice should be abolished or modified.

A Wartime Practice with Modern Scrutiny

Daylight saving time was first implemented in 1942 as a wartime measure to conserve energy by maximizing daylight hours. While it was intended to address resource shortages during World War II, the practice has persisted in many parts of the world, despite significant changes in how societies consume energy.

Today, daylight saving time remains controversial. Proponents argue that it increases evening daylight, boosting economic activity and reducing energy use. Critics counter that its benefits are negligible in modern times and that the clock changes disrupt sleep patterns and health.

Legislative Efforts to End Time Changes

Over the years, lawmakers have introduced various proposals to end daylight saving time. The most notable recent effort, the Sunshine Protection Act, sought to make daylight saving time permanent.

Sponsored by Florida Senator Marco Rubio—Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State—the bipartisan bill passed the Senate in 2022 but failed to gain traction in the House. Advocates for the measure argued that permanent daylight saving time would eliminate the inconvenience of time changes while preserving longer evening daylight hours.

“Changing the clock twice a year is outdated and unnecessary,” said Florida Senator Rick Scott when the Senate approved the act.

Trump’s announcement did not clarify whether he supports permanent daylight saving time, as proposed in the Sunshine Protection Act, or whether he prefers to adopt permanent standard time instead.

Health Experts Advocate for Standard Time

Health professionals have voiced strong opposition to permanent daylight saving time, arguing that standard time better aligns with human circadian rhythms and the natural light cycle.

Organizations such as the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Sleep Medicine have called for the elimination of time changes, warning that extended periods of daylight saving time can disrupt sleep, increase the risk of heart disease, and negatively impact mental health.

“Sticking with standard time ensures that our internal clocks are better synchronized with the sun,” experts have said, emphasizing that natural light exposure plays a crucial role in regulating sleep and overall well-being.

Global and National Practices

Globally, most countries have abandoned daylight saving time altogether, with only about 70 nations continuing the practice. For those that do observe it, the dates for clock changes vary, creating a patchwork of shifting time differences.

Within the United States, Arizona and Hawaii have opted out of daylight saving time entirely. Their decision to stick with standard time has been praised for its simplicity, though it occasionally complicates time coordination with other states.

Trump’s renewed focus on this issue highlights the broader debate over whether the U.S. should follow suit and adopt a uniform time system.

Implications of Trump’s Push

Trump’s promise to address daylight saving time has reinvigorated a stalled conversation about the practice’s relevance in the modern world. His criticism of the time change aligns with growing public sentiment that the biannual clock shifts are unnecessary and disruptive.

The president-elect’s announcement also puts pressure on Congress to revisit previous legislative efforts, such as the Sunshine Protection Act. However, Trump’s comments leave open the question of whether his administration will push for permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.

The Path Forward

As Trump prepares to take office in January 2025, his pledge to end daylight saving time could become a focal point of his administration’s early agenda. If successful, the move would mark a significant shift in U.S. timekeeping practices, affecting daily life, business operations, and international coordination.

The debate over daylight saving time reflects broader societal changes, including shifting work patterns and evolving health priorities. Whether the U.S. ultimately adopts permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, Trump’s promise ensures the issue will remain in the spotlight.

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