Donald Trump endorsed the Solar Light Protection Act on Wednesday and called for its immediate approval by the Senate, arguing that changing the clocks twice a year harms the health, economy, and public safety of Americans.
In a post on Truth Social, the president celebrated that the House of Representatives has already given the green light to the project —with 308 votes in favor and 117 against on July 14— and shifted the pressure to the Senate, where the text is pending in the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
“People are fed up with having to change the clock twice a year. It’s absurd, inconvenient, and in some cases, very costly,” wrote Trump, who added that for cities with watchtowers and hard-to-reach areas, the process incurs costs in the millions of dollars.
The president also invoked public health arguments: "It was recently argued that it is also harmful to health due to the anxiety it generates."
Trump listed a long array of benefits that, according to medical, criminological, and economic studies, would come from permanently adopting daylight saving time: a reduction in thefts and homicides, fewer traffic accidents—especially those involving pedestrians—lower risk of heart attacks, strokes, and seasonal depression, increased safety for children leaving school, and savings on energy bills thanks to an extra hour of natural light in the evenings.
"In other words, let's leave it as it is now and never change it again. This is an issue where Republicans, Democrats, and Independents can come together," said the president, who concluded his message with a direct request: "I urge Republican senators to pass the Solar Light Protection Act as soon as possible."
The project, identified as H.R. 139 in the 119th Congress, was introduced in January 2025 by the Republican representative from Florida Vern Buchanan and was supported by fellow Florida representative Gus Bilirakis.
The Energy and Commerce Committee of the House had previously approved it in May with a vote of 48 to one.
The main obstacle in the Senate is Republican Senator Tom Cotton (Arkansas), who already blocked a bid for expedited approval by unanimous consent in October 2025.
Cotton argues that permanent daylight saving time would lead to dangerously late sunrises in winter: as late as 9:15 AM in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and 9:45 AM in Williston, North Dakota, which would be detrimental to children and workers.
The Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, has also not committed to bringing the bill to a vote, and analysts warn that reaching the 60 votes needed to overcome a potential filibuster is uncertain.
This is not the first attempt to eliminate the time change. In March 2022, the Senate unanimously approved an earlier version of the same bill, but the House never brought it to a vote.
The earliest historical precedent dates back to 1974, when President Richard Nixon enacted a similar measure during the energy crisis, which was rescinded less than a year later due to the unpopularity of the dark winter mornings.
A Gallup poll from 2025 revealed that among those who wish to eliminate the biannual time change, 48% prefer a permanent standard time compared to only 24% who support a permanent daylight saving time. This reflects that public opinion, while largely opposed to changing the clocks, is far from reaching a consensus on which alternative to adopt.
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