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Will We Ever Stop Changing the Clocks? The Fight Over DST

white analog clock sitting in green grass, with the face reading 8:00
Image Credit:
M.Vich/Shutterstock
Written By: Catherine Boeckmann Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Every fall and spring, Americans grumble about changing the clocks—“fall back” in November, “spring forward” in March. But will this ritual ever end? Here’s the latest news on the push to stop switching between Daylight Saving Time (DST) and Standard Time, plus a look back at how we got here.

The Next Clock Change

The next change happens on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 A.M., when Daylight Saving Time ends. Clocks will “fall back” one hour to Standard Time. Most people set their clocks forward before going to bed on Saturday night, March 7, so they wake up at the correct time Sunday morning. For quick and accurate time conversions across U.S. and world time zones, try our Time Zone Converter.

Why We Still Change the Clocks

Many Americans feel that changing clocks is outdated. Studies show:

  • A 2022 CBS News poll: 33% want permanent Standard Time, 46% want permanent DST, and 21% are fine with switching twice a year.
  • A 2022 Monmouth poll: 13% prefer Standard Time year-round, 44% prefer DST year-round, and 35% are okay with switching.

The debate continues: Standard Time aligns with the sun and human circadian rhythms, while DST gives later sunsets and more evening daylight.

Does Changing the Clocks Save Energy?

Not significantly. A 2008 U.S. Department of Energy report found only a 0.5% drop in daily electricity use during extended DST weeks. Modern studies find little benefit.

Health, Safety, and Other Effects of Time Change

  • Sleep & health: Standard Time aligns better with circadian rhythms. The spring switch is linked to increased heart attacks and strokes.
  • Safety: Fatal accidents rise after the spring change, though robberies drop with lighter evenings.
  • Mental health: The fall switch has been linked to higher rates of depression diagnoses.
  • Lifestyle: Extra evening daylight boosts outdoor activity, but economic activity dips after the fall change.

See our 5 Tips to Adjust to Daylight Saving Time for help with the transition.

The Push to End Clock Changes

In recent years, public frustration has fueled political momentum to make either DST or Standard Time permanent.

  • 2018–2022: Dozens of states passed resolutions or laws in favor of permanent Daylight Saving Time, though federal approval was required.
  • 2022: The U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Sunshine Protection Act to make DST permanent. However, the bill stalled in the House.
  • 2023–2025: New versions of the bill have been introduced, but none have advanced to law.

Who Wants to Lock the Clock?

While Congress has not yet passed legislation for permanent DST, states are taking matters into their own hands:

As of this writing, 29 states are actively pursuing some form of permanent time change.

  • Permanent Daylight Saving Time: 19 states have passed laws or resolutions to adopt year-round DST once federal approval is granted.
  • Permanent Standard Time: 6 states are pursuing year-round Standard Time.
  • Mixed or contingent initiatives: 4 states have considered both options or proposals contingent on federal action.
  • No initiative to change: 19 states have not introduced any legislation regarding DST or Standard Time.
  • Already on Standard Time year-round: Hawaii and most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation).

On June 20, 2025, Texas passed a law aiming for year-round DST, but it won’t take effect until Congress allows it.

A Brief History of Clock Changes

The U.S. has wrestled with clock changes for over a century, and permanent DST has been attempted and reversed multiple times. The United States first adopted nationwide clock changes during World War I to save energy, then again during World War II. Since 1966, the Uniform Time Act has regulated the biannual time change.

  • 1918 – World War I: DST was introduced as a fuel-saving measure. Contrary to myth, farmers opposed it because shifting hours disrupted livestock and work routines. The law lasted only 7 months, though some states continued observing it locally.
  • 1942–1945 – World War II: President Franklin D. Roosevelt established year-round “War Time” DST.
  • 1945–1966: States observed DST inconsistently, creating confusion for transportation, broadcasting, and commerce.
  • 1966 – Uniform Time Act: Signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, this standardized DST across U.S. time zones. States could opt out, but the system became the national norm.
  • 1974 – Energy Crisis: DST was made year-round to save energy, but the change was unpopular, especially for children going to school in the dark.
  • 2005 – Energy Policy Act: Established the current system of DST from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November. States can opt out to stay on Standard Time, but cannot adopt year-round DST without Congress.

Exceptions today: Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Marianas) remain on Standard Time.

For more history, see our main Daylight Saving Time page.

Where Things Stand in 2026

As of July 2026, Americans will still be changing their clocks twice a year. No federal law has passed to end the switch. A majority of states support the change in principle, but Congress must act before anything can take effect nationwide.

Will the Clock Changes Ever Stop?

The answer remains: Not yet. While the issue has bipartisan support and broad public approval, the debate continues over which time should be adopted permanently—Daylight Saving or Standard Time. Until Congress resolves the question, “springing forward” and “falling back” continue.

What Other Countries Do

Frustrations with clock changes are not limited to the U.S.:

  • European Union: 80% of residents want to end seasonal clock changes.
  • Countries that abolished DST: Argentina (2009), Russia (2014), Turkey (2016).

Frequently Asked Questions

When do we change clocks in 2026?

Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 2:00 A.M. Clocks “fall back” one hour.

Will this be the last time we change the clocks?

Not yet. Congress has not passed a law to make DST or Standard Time permanent.

Why do we change the clocks?

Originally, to save energy during wartime; today it’s largely historical and standardized by law.

Can states stop changing their clocks?

States can opt out of DST and stay on Standard Time (like Hawaii and Arizona) but cannot adopt year-round DST without federal approval.

Does changing the clocks save energy or improve safety?

Energy savings are minimal. DST may reduce evening crime and encourage activity, but it temporarily increases car accidents and health risks, and it affects sleep and mental health.

Bottom line: The next clock change is November 1, 2026, when Americans set their clocks back 1 hour. Until Congress acts, the twice-yearly time change continues.

What do you think about Daylight Saving Time? Tell us in your comments below.

History

About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann

Executive Digital Editor and Master Gardener

Catherine Boeckmann is the Executive Digital Editor of Almanac.com, the digital home of The Old Farmer’s Almanac. She leads digital editorial strategy and publishing across a wide range of Almanac sub...

Read more from Catherine Boeckmann

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Comments

<span>Linda Latella</span> Mon, 10/21/2024 - 16:25
STANDARD TIME, PLEASE. Leave God's creation alone. One, or the other, does not give you more daylight hours. The sun will rise in the east and set in the west, and time will go on. In a world that is so volatile, make just one thing uniform for us all
<span>K.</span> Sat, 10/26/2024 - 12:08
Neither daylight saving nor standard time affect "God's creation'! Both are arbitrary, humans made them up! We do not affect the sunrise nor the sunset, we just call it by a different number, that's all. Then we base our schedules according to our own numbers. "Standard time" is not any better than DST! It just means you have more sunlight in what we call the morning hours and less in the afternoon. Also --- "standard time" varies across time zones. I'm on the east coast. The sun sets and rises at different times according to how far west, east, north or south you are within your single time zone! SO --- if you want the sun to be at its highest point in the sky for "high noon", then you have to do away with time zones all together. And every location simply has its own time based on that! None of this is 'natural'! LOL ---- Sunrise and sunset is natural. What we call it, how we schedule things around it, that is all of our own human making. So, we can adjust it according to what we prefer! (IE more sunlight in what we call early morning hours or more sunlight in what we call late afternoon hours!) (I prefer more sunlight in what we call evening hours!)
<span>Virginia Teta</span> Mon, 10/28/2024 - 18:50
I would rather leave the clocks alone. DO NOT change the clocks back in the fall. I think we should stay on daylight savings time all year round.
<span>Laetittia Pannell</span> Fri, 10/18/2024 - 09:47
Hello 👋🏼 good morning 🌞, before I give my take on this, let me say this, when God created the world and us, he also created the animals and the the flowers and trees and bugs crawling around, if he wanted to have a timing limitations for all season's he would have done so. Stop messing with the time leave what we the people and the farmers and animals and nature 🍄‍🟫 live by and produce by to provide you and the rest of America with good wholesome vegetables 🍆 meat 🍖🥓 and seafood 🦞🍢 to feed your families, by flipping back n forth you messing with nature's timing and the animals timing of production and the growing of crops. If you don't understand something I suggest to go to the Indian home and their land and talk to the chief or the people who knows the value of protecting the crop's animals fish of the ocean and sea and river's and some lakes, and they'll explain why we shouldn't mess with the God's our God's handiwork because if you look around you things aren't what they're supposed to be, looking the way they're supposed to be, growing like they're supposed to be or tasting like they should taste. This world was built on standard time for us to live work grow play and produce food by, not for us to change to what we want, for decades our ancestors never live by a clock they live by the clocks in our bodies and the the timing of the sun ☀️ coming up in the mornings and the going by the same in the evening, the Egyptians used a sundials to give them a precise time during the day and evening, I say leave the switching to when to get up and when to go to bed to the rising of the sun and the going down of the sun and if you must then use the what has been known for centuries and decades the regular standard time which existed for decades, it is us humans that needs to adjust to the time not time having to adjust to us, think about how your ancestors used the standard time to their advantage and got everything done raised the best tasting crop's seafood 🦞 🍢 from the surrounding waters and the best meat's from their farm's and the best paints to paint with and make natural dyes with for painting 🖌️ 🎨 and dying wool for grafting, they never put chemicals in the food they are or served, think about it, some of your ancestors lived to be the right old age young of 200-400 yrs old and continued to have babies, but our generation have all kinds of problems and allergies and sicknesses, stop messing with both the natural time of standard time and your own biological body timing and you'll be better for it Laetittia Pannell 🧓🏼☕💖
<span>Paulina</span> Mon, 10/14/2024 - 07:56
Man is always screwing things up. Just let Mother Nature do what she does best and enjoy life 🥰
<span>Jul</span> Mon, 10/07/2024 - 08:31
I’m in the camp of Standard Time. I actually look forward to the end of DLST each year and dread the changing to Day light Saving time. It throws everything off for me. It was an artificial change. So let’s just stick with Standard Time and give us, the farmers and animals a break. Let nature be nature.
<span>Steve Evans</span> Mon, 10/07/2024 - 00:00
In Alaska we have 20 hours of summer daylight, so DST accomplishes nothing. During the winter all of our kids wait for buses and go to school in the dark with no ill effects. I don’t care whether we go with DST or standard time — just pick one and go with it! I absolutely hate the twice a year time change!
<span>Sharon Thielfoldt</span> Sun, 09/29/2024 - 17:18
Look at all the negative comments that was listed above in your theory of do WE want to turn the clocks back....you said it's not making a difference n there more problems when WE DO...so don't change the clocks back. I didn't see 1 positive reason in the article you wrote at all!!
<span>Sharon Thielfoldt</span> Sun, 09/29/2024 - 17:08
Im not looking forward on turning out clocks back. It just makes the days feel longer. I enjoy it now with it being light out till 8-9. Wish they wouldn't change it!!!
<span>Carol F Metzger</span> Tue, 09/17/2024 - 20:26
I'm in the "stay on Standard Time" camp. I'm UTC-6 and I like it that way. However, anything that keeps the clocks the same all year is fine.