Daylight Saving Time (DST) will commence this year on the second Sunday in March, marking the annual tradition of moving clocks forward by one hour. This transition will occur on March 9, 2025, and will continue until the first Sunday in November, when clocks will revert back by one hour. Established under the Uniform Time Act of 1966, DST aims to maximize daylight hours, originally serving to conserve energy during World War I. Despite its longstanding presence, the practice continues to evoke debate across the United States.
Implemented in 1918 through the Standard Time Act, DST was designed to optimize daylight usage and reduce reliance on artificial lighting. Over the years, however, concerns have emerged regarding its impact on health. The time shift has been linked to a range of health issues, including increased heart attacks, strokes, abnormal heart rhythms, and sleep disruptions. It also affects mood stability and has even been associated with heightened suicide rates.
Exceptions to DST exist within the U.S., with Hawaii and Arizona (excluding the Navajo Nation) opting not to observe the time change. Similarly, five U.S. territories—American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands—do not participate. State law allows individual states to exempt themselves from DST, although most states continue with the tradition.
In recent years, efforts to abolish DST have gained momentum. In 2022, the U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act, a measure aimed at making DST permanent. However, this legislation has yet to be enacted into law. President Donald Trump expressed support for ending DST during his tenure, stating:
"The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn't!" – President Donald Trump
Further bolstering this movement, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine in 2023 formed a coalition advocating for legislation to make standard time permanent nationwide. These initiatives reflect growing awareness of the potential adverse effects linked to the biannual clock changes.
Despite these efforts, DST remains in effect for now. As clocks "spring forward," individuals will lose an hour of sleep—a familiar adjustment that often requires some acclimation. The onset of DST coincides closely with the arrival of spring, which begins officially on March 20 this year. This period is traditionally associated with longer days and a sense of rejuvenation.
Daylight Saving Time will run its course until November 2, 2025, when clocks will "fall back" one hour. The return to standard time marks the conclusion of another cycle of extended daylight hours.
