Donald Trump, the President-elect, has announced plans to eliminate Daylight Saving Time (DST) in the US, calling it “inconvenient and very costly” to the nation.
Trump stated that the Republican party would “use its best efforts” to end the practice.
Daylight Saving Time has been observed in nearly all US states since the 1960s.
However, it has been a topic of debate in recent years, with some lawmakers advocating for keeping standard time year-round while others want to keep DST all year.
Trump’s announcement comes after a bipartisan group of senators made a new push to make DST permanent in March. Supporters argue that permanent DST would lead to brighter afternoons and evenings, boosting economic activity during winter months.
However, critics claim it would force children to walk to school in darkness and cause sleep disturbances and health issues.
The US Senate voted unanimously to make DST permanent in March 2022, but the effort stalled in the House. With Trump’s backing, it’s possible that the issue may gain traction again.
However, it’s worth noting that Congress hasn’t held new hearings on the issue in over two years, and the Senate would need to revisit the issue.
