President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans early Friday to pass legislation ending the nation’s twice yearly clock changes before lawmakers leave Washington for recess.
Trump again called on the Senate to advance the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide, in a lengthy post on social media.
“Republicans in the Senate have to get moving on what I call the ‘No More Changing of Clocks Act,’ officially known as The Sunshine Protection Act,” Trump wrote.
Trump argued that changing the clocks twice a year is “foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly,” and said permanent daylight saving time would provide more sunlight during evening hours.
The legislation, introduced in January 2025, passed the House 308-117 on July 14 with bipartisan support but remains pending in the Senate without a scheduled debate.
Trump blamed Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) for holding up the measure.
“Unfortunately, it’s being held up by Senator Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, for reasons unknown,” he wrote.
Cotton has opposed ending daylight saving for years, arguing that children would head to school before sunrise and commuters could face safety risks during the winter months. Permanent daylight saving time would provide later sunsets during the winter but it would also substantially delay sunrise.
Source: Department of Transportation, Washington Post; Graphic: Grace Hagerman/Washington Examiner
" data-large-file="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?w=696" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?w=696" alt="Map of US time zones and latest sunrises if daylight saving is made permanent" class="wp-image-4739504" srcset="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png 1024w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?resize=300,200 300w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?resize=768,512 768w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?resize=150,100 150w, https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Time-zones-1.png?resize=696,464 696w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px">
Source: Department of Transportation, Washington Post; Graphic: Grace Hagerman/Washington Examiner
But Trump pushed back, saying “people are sick and tired of having to change their Clocks twice a year.” He argued ending the practice could reduce crime and car crashes while improving health, tourism, retail, and restaurant activity.
The debate over changing the nation’s timekeeping system has stretched across the states for years. Since 2015, nearly every state has considered legislation related to daylight saving time, with more than 800 bills and resolutions introduced in recent years.
The clock is ticking for the Senate as the next scheduled transition to standard time approaches Nov. 1. Without congressional action, states will continue following the current federal system.
Lawmakers have yet to reach a consensus on which system should replace the current practice. Some proposals would make daylight saving time permanent, keeping clocks on their summer setting year-round, while others would eliminate daylight saving time altogether and keep the country on standard time.
Nineteen states have approved permanent daylight saving time. What does that mean for the clocks this year?
Health experts have also disagreed with the push for permanent daylight saving time. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine supports permanent standard time, arguing that it better aligns with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. The group has cited research linking seasonal clock changes with increased risks of cardiovascular events, mood disorders, and car crashes.
The Senate has not scheduled a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act.
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[ H/T Washington Examiner ]
