The House just voted to kill the twice-a-year clock change — and President Trump is all in.
The Sunshine Protection Act passed the House 308-117 on Tuesday, with bipartisan support sending the measure to the Senate. If signed into law, Americans would never “fall back” or “spring forward” again.
Trump posted on Truth Social that the bill would save “Hundreds of Millions of Dollars” wasted every year on the “ridiculous, twice yearly production” of changing clocks.
“I am going to work very hard to see The Sunshine Protection Act signed into Law. It’s time that people can stop worrying about the ‘Clock,’ not to mention all of the work and money that is spent on this ridiculous, twice yearly production. It will also be a very nice WIN for the Republican Party. Take it!”
The vote wasn’t entirely party-line — 22 Republicans and 95 Democrats voted against the measure. Opposition centers on concerns about school start times, sunrise schedules, and effects on sleep cycles.
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ) led the bipartisan push. Buchanan argued the change would improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime, and encourage outdoor activity.
“Floridians and Americans across the country are tired of the biannual time change, and the evidence is clear that permanent daylight saving time can improve public health, reduce traffic accidents, lower crime and encourage more outdoor activity.”
Trump has pushed to end clock-switching since the beginning of his presidency, but the issue has repeatedly stalled despite gaining momentum.
The bill now faces a tougher fight in the Senate, where members from both parties have raised objections.
Research on daylight saving time’s original purpose — energy conservation — shows mixed results. A 2008 National Bureau of Economic Research study found DST actually increases residential electricity demand by about 1 percent, contrary to its stated goal. Lighting demand dropped, but heating and cooling costs spiked.
Health and safety data tells a darker story. Traffic fatalities jump 17 percent on the Monday after clocks spring forward, with elevated accident rates lasting six days. Medical studies link the time change to increased stroke risk from sleep disturbances.
The Senate vote timeline has not been announced.
