US clocks fall back Nov. 1 as permanent daylight saving time bill stalls in Senate

Key points

• Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. on Nov. 1, 2026, with clocks falling back one hour.
• The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House in July but stalled in the Senate.
• President Trump urged Senate Republicans to advance the bill, citing benefits for crime and stress.
• Senator Tom Cotton opposed the bill, citing past failures of permanent daylight saving time.
• Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time.

Background

The US has observed daylight saving time since 1918, with the current schedule established in 2007. Previous attempts to make daylight saving time permanent, including under President Nixon in 1974, were reversed due to public backlash over late sunrises. The Sunshine Protection Act was passed by the Senate in 2022 but stalled in the House, and a 2025 version stalled in the Senate.

How outlets are covering it

NBC News emphasizes the health and safety risks cited by experts against permanent daylight saving time, while CBS News highlights the political gridlock and the expiration of the bill in January 2027. Both sources agree that the bill passed the House but stalled in the Senate, with CBS News specifically naming Senator Tom Cotton as a blocker.

Why it matters

The twice-yearly time change disrupts sleep schedules and circadian rhythms, with potential impacts on health and safety. Permanent daylight saving time could provide more evening daylight but may lead to later sunrises in winter, affecting daily routines and outdoor activities.

What to watch

If the Sunshine Protection Act does not pass before the end of the 119th Congress in January 2027, the effort to change daylight saving time will have to start over in the new Congress. The next daylight saving time change is scheduled for March 14, 2027.