People who want to stick to standard time say it has health benefits because it’s better to have more light in the morning and darker evenings to improve sleep cycles. They say DST can disrupt your sleep schedule.
But others want to make DST permanent, arguing that brighter evenings, especially for those commuting to work or school, will reduce crime, save energy and even save lives in terms of reducing traffic accidents.
Both sides say their preferred option would be better for the economy.
Trump’s plan is not the first attempt to change America’s biennial practice of changing clocks seasonally.
Making daylight saving time permanent was the goal of a 2022 bill that passed the Democratic-controlled Senate.
However, the Sunshine Protection Act proposed by Republican Senator Marco Rubio did not reach President Joe Biden’s desk.
Rubio, who was later nominated by President Trump to be secretary of state in the next administration, said at the time that research showed permanent daylight saving time could help the economy.
The United States began changing its clocks seasonally in 1918 in an effort to save fuel during World War I. This was unpopular with the peasants and was abolished after the war.
However, DST returned during World War II and became permanent in 1966. However, states can opt out.
Most of Hawaii and Arizona do not currently follow DST time changes.
A study by Joan Costa-i-Font, a professor at the London School of Economics, found that DST has “detrimental effects on sleep and physical health, fatigue, stress, time stress and mental health.”
Professor Costa-i-Font’s research found that the end of DST would increase economic output in monetary terms by 754 euros ($792, 627 pounds) per person per year., external.
Countries ending the practice include Mexico in 2022, although DST will remain in place in areas near the U.S. border for economic and logistical reasons. Jordan also finished practicing that year.
Other countries, such as Türkiye and Russia, have implemented permanent DST in the past decade.
In a Monmouth University poll, researchers found that about two-thirds of people, external The United States wants to make DST permanent.
