Trump vows to end ‘very expensive’ daylight saving time
US President-elect Donald Trump has said he wants to end Daylight Saving Time (DST), arguing that it is “inconvenient” and “too costly” for Americans.
In a post on his platform Truth Social, Trump said that DST had “a small but strong constituency, but it shouldn’t be” and that his Republican Party would work to end it.
DST is the practice of moving the clocks forward one hour in the spring and back one hour in the fall to make better use of natural daylight.
According to the Pew Research Center, it is seen in one-third of the world’s countries, including most of Europe. However, some people in America have long advocated ending this age-old tradition.
Those who want to stick with standard time say it benefits our health, as it is better to have more light in the morning, paving the way for improved sleep cycles during darker evenings. They say DST can cause disruptions in sleep schedules.
But others want to make DST permanent instead, arguing that brighter evenings, especially for people commuting to work or school, would reduce crime, save energy and even road accidents. Will also save lives in case of shortage.
Both sides say their preferred option would be better for the economy.
Trump’s plan is not the first attempt to change the biennial practice of changing clocks seasonally in the US.
Making daylight saving time permanent was the aim of a 2022 bill that passed the Democratic-controlled Senate.
But the Sunshine Protection Act, which was introduced by Republican Senator Marco Rubio, never reached President Joe Biden’s desk.
Rubio has been selected by Trump for the role of Secretary of State under his incoming administration.
The United States first began changing its clocks according to the seasons in 1918 during World War I in an effort to conserve fuel. It was unpopular with farmers and was repealed after the war.
But DST returned again during World War II and was made permanent in 1966, although states could opt out of it.
Hawaii and most of Arizona do not currently observe the time change under DST.
Research by Professor Joan Costa-i-Font of the London School of Economics found that DST had “detrimental effects on sleep and physical health, and on fatigue, stress, time pressure and mental health”.
Professor Costa-i-Font’s study found that, in monetary terms, the end of DST Would increase economic output by €754 ($792; £627) per capita per year,
Countries that have ended the practice include Mexico in 2022, although DST is still maintained in areas near the US border for economic and logistical reasons. Jordan also ended the practice that year.
Others, such as Türkiye and Russia, have instead implemented a permanent DST over the past decade.
In a Monmouth University poll, researchers found about two thirds of people Want to make DST permanent in America.
