With Daylight Saving Time (DST) just weeks away, Americans are preparing to set their clocks forward once again. As the annual tradition approaches, many are curious about its start and end dates, the rationale behind it, and whether any legislative changes are on the horizon.
When Does Daylight Saving Time Begin in 2025?
In the United States, Daylight Saving Time begins on the second Sunday of March. This year, clocks will officially "spring forward" at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, 2025. The shift means losing an hour of sleep but gaining extended daylight in the evening.
When Does Daylight Saving Time End?
DST concludes on the first Sunday of November when clocks "fall back" an hour. In 2025, this will happen on Sunday, November 2.
Why Does the Time Change Happen at 2 A.M.?
Michael Downing, author of Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time, explained in an interview with Time Magazine that the change occurs at 2 a.m. because of historical railway schedules. At the time DST was established, no trains were leaving New York City at 2 a.m. on Sundays, making it the least disruptive moment for nationwide adjustments.
Is Trump Ending Daylight Saving Time?
President Donald Trump had expressed his desire to eliminate Daylight Saving Time. Through his social media platform, Truth Social, he stated:
"The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation."
However, eliminating DST would require congressional approval, and no official legislative action has been taken to enforce such a change.
Which States Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time?
As of July 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation reported that only Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate in Daylight Saving Time. The Navajo Nation, located within Arizona, is an exception and does observe DST. Additionally, the U.S. territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands do not follow DST.
What Is the Sunshine Protection Act?
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021 was introduced to make daylight saving time permanent. In 2022, the bill passed the U.S. Senate unanimously but did not advance through the U.S. House of Representatives. Currently, there is no confirmed timeline for when the bill may be reconsidered.
