Daylight saving time's future hangs in limbo. See when it ends in 2026 - USA Today

With just a month left before daylight saving time ends, Americans remain in limbo as the Senate weighs ending the twice-yearly clock change.

The Senate returned from a five-week recess on Sept. 14 with no vote scheduled on the Sunshine Protection Act that would make daylight saving time permanent. Another recess, meanwhile, is set to begin Oct. 5 and end Nov. 6. Barring congressional action, Americans should still plan to turn their clocks back Nov. 1.

While the House has already approved the bill and President Donald Trump is pushing senators to approve it, the legislation's future remains uncertain. Here's what you need to know about daylight saving time ending this year.

With the Senate scheduled to be on recess until Nov. 6, daylight saving time is on track to end at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1.

At that time, clocks will move back one hour to 1 a.m., giving most Americans an extra hour of sleep and bringing earlier sunsets during the winter months.

The answer is simple: no new law has been enacted.

The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent and eliminate the spring and fall clock changes, passed the House earlier this summer by a bipartisan vote. But the legislation still must clear the Senate and be signed by Trump before it can take effect.

Even with support from Trump and lawmakers in both parties, Senate Majority Leader John Thune has previously questioned whether enough senators support the proposal to move it across the finish line.

Until then, current federal law remains in place.

Trump has repeatedly called for ending the twice-yearly clock change and keeping the nation on daylight saving time year-round.

In an Aug. 4 Truth Social post, Trump described changing clocks twice a year as "foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly."

"People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year," Trump wrote, arguing permanent daylight saving time would reduce traffic accidents, lower crime, save energy and give families more daylight in the evening.

"In other words, leave it as it is now, and never change again," he wrote. "LET'S PASS THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT, ASAP."

While many Americans support ending the clock changes, experts remain divided on what should replace them.

Sleep and health researchers generally agree that switching clocks twice annually can disrupt the body's circadian rhythm and affect sleep patterns. But many experts argue that permanent standard time, not permanent daylight saving time, would be healthier because it better aligns with the body's natural clock.

The debate has left lawmakers weighing whether the bigger problem is changing clocks or which time system the country should adopt permanently.

Meanwhile, ski resort operators across the United States are urging senators to reject making daylight saving time permanent, arguing darker winter mornings would create safety risks for workers, delay ski lift openings and hurt mountain communities that depend on winter tourism.

Some religious communities also oppose permanent daylight saving time.

Rabbi Josh Joseph of the Orthodox Union said many Jewish religious practices are tied to sunrise and sunset, which determine prayer times and observances. Later winter sunrises could make morning prayers more difficult, particularly in parts of the Midwest and Mountain West.

Some Muslim communities have raised similar concerns because certain daily prayers must be completed by dawn.

No. While most Americans change their clocks twice a year, some states and U.S. territories already stay on standard time year-round, including:

A 2023 YouGov survey found 62% of Americans favored eliminating the time changes, while a January 2025 Gallup poll found 54% wanted to end the practice. Americans remain divided, however, on whether the country should adopt permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.

Contributing: Bart Jensen, Zachary Schermele, Jorge L. Ortiz, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Emily DeLetter, Julia Gomez, Kinsey Crowley, Marc Ramirez, and USA TODAY; Reuters

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@usatodayco.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.