The arrival of cooler autumn temperatures and longer nights signals that it’s almost time for the annual transition away from daylight saving time (DST) in 2025. For many, preparing for this change involves remembering when to turn their clocks back an hour, which this year will take place on November 2 at 2 a.m. This shift will reset the time to 1 a.m., giving people an extra hour, often seen as a reward for sleep or leisure.
Daylight saving time is a practice still observed in most of the United States and various countries worldwide, aimed at extending daylight during evening hours throughout the warmer months. However, the debate surrounding the necessity of this practice continues, with advocates pressing for its elimination.
In April, former President Donald Trump made headlines by expressing support for permanent daylight saving time through a post on Truth Social, asserting that Congress should advocate for more daylight in the evenings to eliminate the inconvenience and financial costs linked with clock changes. Interestingly, this was not his first discourse on the subject; previous comments by Trump in December 2024 hinted at his intention to end daylight saving time in favor of adopting a permanent standard time.
The discussions around this topic also reflect a broader societal divide. Supporters of permanent DST argue for later sunrises and sunsets to maximize after-work outdoor activities, while those favoring standard time emphasize safety for school children during the darker winter mornings and the alignment with natural circadian rhythms, as highlighted by various research sources.
The Sunshine Protection Act, which aims to make daylight saving time permanent throughout the year, has been introduced multiple times in Congress, previously passing the Senate in 2022 but stalling in the House. Most recently, the act was reintroduced in January 2025 but has yet to gain traction.
At the state level, Pennsylvania’s legislature advanced a resolution in March, calling for an end to the clock changes, joining a group of 29 states that have proposed similar legislation. Despite a bill for year-round daylight saving time being introduced in Pennsylvania in 2023, it did not pass.
While many states, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware, continue to observe daylight saving time, there are notable exceptions, such as Hawaii and parts of Arizona. U.S. territories, including American Samoa, Guam, and Puerto Rico, also do not participate in this biannual clock adjustment.
As we prepare to “fall back” this November, this annual ritual remains a topic of lively debate, reflecting people’s diverse preferences and lifestyles across the country. Emphasizing a potential shift in perception about timekeeping and its effects on daily life, it seems the conversation about whether to keep or abolish daylight saving time will persist for years to come.