We may be one step closer to ending the clock-switching ritual in America. Lawmakers, doctors, and advocates are calling for a move to permanent time—especially standard time—citing health, safety, and outdated energy logic.
Key Facts:
- A Senate Commerce Committee hearing explored ending Daylight Saving Time (DST) or locking in a permanent time.
- Sen. Ted Cruz noted DST no longer serves its original energy-saving purpose and may harm public health and safety.
- Health experts warned that changing clocks disrupts the body’s natural sleep rhythm, raising risks for heart issues and sleep disorders.
- A 2023 Gallup poll shows 72% of Americans oppose switching clocks; 48% support permanent standard time, only 24% want permanent DST.
- The American Medical Association and American Academy of Sleep Medicine both support ending time changes in favor of standard time.
The Rest of the Story: Congressional Push to End Clock Switching
The U.S. Senate recently heard testimony on whether to end the biannual clock changes tied to Daylight Saving Time.
Lawmakers from both parties expressed growing frustration over what many called an outdated and disruptive tradition.
Sen. Ted Cruz argued the time change causes more harm than good, citing health problems and increased car accidents in early morning darkness.
Sleep experts, like Dr. Karin Johnson, detailed how these disruptions affect everything from cardiovascular health to mood.
Others, like Sen. Lisa Blunt-Rochester and Scott Yates of the Lock the Clock movement, echoed the call to pick a permanent time.
History shows a prior attempt to make DST permanent in 1974 was unpopular and quickly reversed—especially after students had to head to school in the dark.
Even President Trump weighed in on Truth Social, supporting more daylight in the evening—but agreeing with the need to end clock changes altogether.
Commentary: Why Permanent Standard Time Makes the Most Sense
There was once a time when adjusting the clocks might have helped save on energy costs.
But that era is gone.
The economy no longer hinges on daylight the way it did a century ago.
Today, we have 24/7 lighting, digital workplaces, and more flexible schedules.
Keeping the time change now does more harm than good.
Research shows that shifting the clocks twice a year throws off our circadian rhythm.
That internal clock—our body’s natural sense of time—is tied directly to sunlight.
Mess with that rhythm, and we face sleep problems, mood swings, and even serious health risks like heart disease and stroke.
Permanent Daylight Saving Time might sound nice—longer evenings, more time outdoors—but it comes at a cost.
Children go to school in the dark, making mornings unsafe and unhealthy.
It also delays the natural melatonin release that helps us fall asleep, leaving many lying awake late into the night.
Science favors standard time.
It better matches our biological programming.
Morning light wakes us up and evening darkness tells our bodies it’s time to rest.
That pattern keeps our stress levels in check, our hearts healthier, and our minds more alert.
More daylight in the evening might help a few industries, like golf and tourism, but public health should come first.
The body wasn’t made to function out of sync with the sun.
Ending the time change would eliminate stress, confusion, and unnecessary health risks.
And if we must choose, permanent standard time is the natural and healthier path.
The Bottom Line: Permanent Time and Public Health
The twice-a-year clock change is outdated, unnecessary, and unhealthy.
Momentum is building in Congress to “lock the clock,” but the real question is: which time should we lock it to?
The science and health communities are clear—permanent standard time is the best choice for public health and daily life.
Read Next
– Space Force Commander Who Undermined JD Vance in Greenland Pays The Ultimate Price
– America’s Budget Deficit Just Exploded—and It’s Not Slowing Down
– Idaho Governor Signs Strongest Medical Freedom Law in The Country, This Changes Everything