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President-elect Donald Trump announced on Friday (December 13) that the Republican Party will work to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, calling it "inconvenient" and "costly." Trump shared this plan on Truth Social, emphasizing the need for change, as the practice has a small but strong constituency that he believes should not continue.
"The Republican Party will use its best efforts to eliminate Daylight Saving Time, which has a small but strong constituency, but shouldn’t! Daylight Saving Time is inconvenient, and very costly to our Nation," Trump wrote.
The proposal to end the biannual clock change has gained support from key figures in Trump's incoming administration. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, who are set to lead the new Department of Government Efficiency, have also expressed their backing for this initiative. Musk recently responded to a poll on X, indicating public support for abolishing the time change, while Ramaswamy called it "inefficient and easy to change," according to CNN.
The change would require congressional approval, and while previous attempts to make Daylight Saving Time permanent have faltered, Trump's endorsement could revive efforts. In 2022, the U.S. Senate passed legislation to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, but it stalled in the House. Now, with potential backing from the president-elect, the issue may gain new momentum as reported by ABC News.
Public opinion on the matter is divided. A 2021 poll by AP-NORC found that 75% of Americans oppose the clock change, though there is no consensus on whether Daylight Saving Time or standard time should be permanent. Some experts advocate for permanent standard time, citing benefits for the human body's natural circadian rhythm, while others would prefer to keep Daylight Savings Time so there is more sunlight later in the day.
Those who support keeping Daylight Savings Time argue that more sunlight after work hours will increase people's engagement in the economy and reduce crime rates.