A sweeping majority of Americans want to end the twice-yearly ritual of changing clocks, with new polling revealing broad bipartisan support for making daylight saving time or standard time permanent. The push comes as Congress has repeatedly failed to act on legislation that would eliminate the clock changes affecting over 330 million Americans.
Overwhelming Public Support Emerges
Recent surveys show approximately 63% of Americans favor eliminating the spring forward and fall back tradition that has governed American timekeeping since 1966. The frustration crosses party lines, with both conservative and progressive voters united in their desire to stop the disruptive practice. Sleep researchers and medical professionals have long warned about health risks associated with the time changes, including increased heart attacks and workplace accidents in the days following each shift.
The biannual clock change costs the economy billions annually through reduced productivity, increased accidents, and health complications. Studies document that the Monday following spring forward sees a 24% spike in heart attack incidents. Parents struggle with children’s disrupted sleep schedules, while farmers and outdoor workers face operational challenges during the darker morning hours under daylight saving time.
Congressional Gridlock Continues
Despite the Sunshine Protection Act passing the Senate unanimously in 2022, the House failed to advance the measure. The legislation would have made daylight saving time permanent year-round, giving Americans an extra hour of evening sunlight in winter months. Critics argued the bill ignored scientific evidence favoring permanent standard time, which better aligns with human circadian rhythms and provides morning sunlight crucial for regulating sleep cycles.
States have grown frustrated with federal inaction. Nineteen states have passed legislation to adopt permanent daylight saving time, but these laws cannot take effect without congressional approval due to the Uniform Time Act of 1966. The constitutional question of state versus federal authority over timekeeping remains unresolved, limiting states’ ability to act independently on an issue their citizens overwhelmingly support.
What This Means
The disconnect between public preference and congressional action highlights Washington’s dysfunction on issues affecting daily American life. While politicians debate arcane procedural matters, families endure unnecessary health risks and economic costs twice yearly. The issue represents a rare opportunity for bipartisan achievement that would improve citizens’ wellbeing and respect states’ rights to manage their own affairs. Until Congress acts, Americans will continue resetting their clocks despite clear evidence the practice serves no modern purpose and contradicts the will of the governed.
Just set the clock on the right time — and then leave it alone! It would be entirely possible for anyone, including schools (or banks, or ANY other business) to start OR stop their schedules at any time of the day!
This is supposed to be a free country. Lets just stop trying to manipulate others. Anyone can stop or start their days anytime they desire. Sheesh!!!
Just leave the clocks alone!! Pick one and stop playing with the time. I had a uncle who was a dairy farmer and he refused to change his clocks. He said it confused his cows.
I remember when I was in high school, that due to the Arab oil Embargo, even though we were already on DST, the government tried putting an additional DST on top of it. Anybody with their head screwed on straight knows this isn’t going to work. It would be pitch black when we went to school in the mornings. Then a young woman was assaulted during the double DST, and we got the extra hour back. Benjamin Franklin was the first to propose DST, but back then it was to save expensive candles, as people would begin work about an hour before dawn and end an hour after sunset. While it’s been used as a reminder to check our smoke detectors, the ones now tell you when their batteries need changing, so there goes that. I say keep it on Standard Time permanently!