Senate stalls permanent daylight saving time bill; clock change set for Nov. 1

Daylight saving time will end at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when Americans will turn their clocks back one hour, returning to standard time. The U.S. Senate has not scheduled a vote on the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent year-round, despite the House passing the bipartisan bill in July 2026 and President Trump publicly urging Senate action.

Trump has repeatedly called for ending the twice-yearly time change, describing it in an August Truth Social post as "foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly." He has argued that permanent daylight saving time would reduce traffic accidents, lower crime, and save energy while providing more daylight in the evening hours. However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously questioned whether sufficient support exists among senators to pass the measure. The Senate returned from a five-week recess on September 14 with no vote scheduled, and with November 1 less than two months away, the legislative window is narrowing.

Public opinion on the issue remains divided. A 2023 YouGov poll found 62% of Americans favored eliminating time changes, while an AP-NORC poll from late 2025 found 56% preferred permanent daylight saving time. However, a January 2025 Gallup poll showed 54% wanted to end clock changes altogether. Sleep and health researchers generally agree that switching clocks twice annually disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, though many experts argue that permanent standard time—not daylight saving time—would be healthier because it better aligns with the body's natural clock.

Several U.S. territories and states already do not observe daylight saving time, including Hawaii, most of Arizona, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Unless Congress passes legislation before the November 1 deadline, Americans will observe the traditional fall clock change, with daylight saving time scheduled to return on March 14, 2027.