American Clocks Fall Back as Daylight Saving Time Ends

Millions of Americans gained an extra hour of sleep early Sunday as daylight saving time officially concluded, returning the nation to standard time and prompting earlier sunsets across the country.

Clocks fell back one hour at 2 a.m. local time, shifting the time zones just after Halloween and offering brighter mornings while darkening evenings until mid-March.

While smartphones and computers updated automatically, residents had to manually adjust analog clocks, car dashboards, and household appliances.

Hawaii, most of Arizona, and several United States territories do not observe daylight saving time, meaning their clocks remained unchanged.

The twice-yearly ritual has reignited political divisions in Washington over a stalled proposal known as the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent.

The House of Representatives passed the legislation by a 308-117 vote in July, but the measure has faced strong resistance in the Senate.

President Donald Trump has backed the permanent change, writing on social media in May that it is time to stop worrying about the clock and the money spent on the production.

Opponents in the Senate are led by Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas, who has argued that permanent daylight saving time would force children to walk to school in the dark during winter.

President Trump criticized Cotton in October and urged the public to call the senator's personal cellphone to protest the opposition.

Medical professionals and sleep researchers have also pushed back against the White House proposal, arguing instead for permanent standard time.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine contends that standard time aligns better with human circadian rhythms and reduces health risks associated with darker mornings.

A Gallup survey found that 48 percent of Americans favor permanent standard time, compared to 24 percent who support year-round daylight saving time.

Historical precedent hangs over the debate, as the United States previously experimented with permanent daylight saving time during an energy crisis in 1974.

That trial was reversed within months after public dissatisfaction grew over late winter sunrises and safety hazards for children traveling to school.

Lawmakers face a tight deadline because all pending congressional legislation expires in early January when newly elected members take office.

Clocks are scheduled to spring forward again on March 14, 2027, unless Congress passes new legislation before then.