Americans will turn their clocks back one hour on Nov. 1, 2026, as daylight saving time ends and the country returns to standard time. President Donald Trump has urged Congress to eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes by voting for the Sunshine Protection Act. But lawmakers adjourned without passing legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent. The issue remains unresolved, leaving most Americans preparing for another seasonal adjustment.

When Does Daylight Saving Time End in 2026?

Daylight saving time is scheduled to end at 2 a.m. local time Sunday, Nov. 1. At that point, clocks will move back one hour to 1 a.m., giving people an additional hour on the clock while shifting daylight toward the morning.

The transition also means earlier sunsets as winter approaches. Under current federal law, daylight saving time begins on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

Most states follow this schedule, although Hawaii, most of Arizona and several U.S. territories remain on standard time throughout the year.

Congress Has Not Passed the Sunshine Protection Act

The central obstacle to ending the seasonal clock changes is the lack of final congressional approval.

The Sunshine Protection Act would establish permanent daylight saving time nationwide, eliminating the need to move clocks forward in spring and backward in fall. According to the supplied report, the House passed the legislation by a 301-117 vote in July, but the measure stalled in the Senate.

Congressional leaders have expressed reservations about the proposal, particularly over its potential effects during winter mornings.

Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., has pointed to the problems that arose when the United States experimented with year-round daylight saving time in the 1970s.

Roger Wicker, R-Miss., has raised concerns about children waiting for school buses in darkness during winter.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune also indicated in October that there was no clear path forward for the legislation.

Without Senate approval and the president's signature, the existing system remains in place.

Trump Pushes for Permanent Daylight Saving Time

Trump has repeatedly criticized the current system and urged Congress to stop changing clocks twice a year.

In an Oct. 2 post on Truth Social, he called on Senate Republicans to advance what he described as the “No More Changing of Clocks Act,” referring to the Sunshine Protection Act.

Trump has argued that clock changes create unnecessary disruption and that Americans prefer additional daylight in the evening.

His position reflects a longstanding public debate over whether the country should adopt permanent daylight saving time, permanent standard time or retain the existing arrangement.

However, presidential support alone cannot change the schedule. Congress must amend federal law to establish a permanent nationwide policy.

Do Americans Want to Stop Changing Clocks?

Polling suggests that many Americans favor ending the twice-yearly adjustment, although there is less agreement about what should replace it.

A 2023 YouGov survey cited in the supplied material found that 62% of respondents supported ending the clock changes. A January 2025 Gallup poll found that 54% wanted to eliminate the practice.

The disagreement centers largely on the distribution of daylight. Permanent daylight saving time would provide more light during evening hours, while permanent standard time would offer more morning daylight during winter.

Those differences matter particularly in northern states, where winter sunrises can occur late in the morning.

What Sleep Experts Say About Permanent Daylight Saving Time

The debate also involves health and sleep research. Experts generally agree that shifting clocks can temporarily disrupt the body's circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and other biological processes.

However, some sleep researchers favor permanent standard time over permanent daylight saving time because standard time more closely aligns daylight with the body's natural biological clock.

Christopher Barnes, a professor at the University of Washington's Foster School of Business, told USA TODAY that the appeal of daylight saving time often comes from the prospect of brighter evenings. He also warned that permanent daylight saving time could produce long-term circadian misalignment, potentially affecting sleep and health.

Sleep disruption has been associated with reduced concentration, impaired performance and other difficulties. The debate therefore extends beyond convenience to questions about public health, transportation and workplace productivity.

Which States Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation, which extends into Arizona, does observe it.

U.S. territories that remain on standard time year-round include American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966 established the framework for daylight saving time in the United States. Federal law governs the schedule, and Congress has the authority to change the national system.

For now, the planned Nov. 1 transition remains in place. Unless lawmakers pass a change to federal law, most Americans will continue adjusting their clocks twice each year.

The debate is likely to continue as lawmakers weigh public preferences, winter sunrise times, sleep research and the practical effects of a permanent national schedule.

More Information 

• U.S. Department of Transportation: Daylight Saving Time — federal information about the clock-change schedule and time-zone rules.

• National Institute of Standards and Technology: Daylight Saving Time — background on daylight saving time and its history.

• Congress.gov: Sunshine Protection Act — legislative records and updates on proposals to change the federal clock schedule.

• American Academy of Sleep Medicine — research and recommendations concerning daylight saving time and sleep health.

• YouGov — public opinion surveys on clock changes and other national issues.

USA Herald Stories by Jackie Allen

For additional reading, these USA Herald links provide access to national news, politics and science coverage. The category links are useful for locating Jackie Allen's related articles.

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