Americans are preparing to turn their clocks back one hour on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, as daylight saving time officially ends across most of the country. At 2 a.m. local time, most residents will move their clocks back to 1 a.m., gaining an extra hour of sleep as the nation transitions to standard time for the winter months.
Although the clock change is currently scheduled, the debate over ending the practice remains active in Washington. The House of Representatives approved the Sunshine Protection Act in a 308-117 bipartisan vote this past July. However, the legislation has stalled in the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, with no floor vote currently on the schedule. 25, no Senate floor vote has been scheduled on legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent.
As the Senate returned from its summer break on Sept. 14, lawmakers face a shrinking window to act before the Nov. 1 deadline. Senate Majority Leader John Thune recently noted that members of the chamber remain divided on the issue, leaving the future of the bill uncertain. Supporters of the move to “lock the clock” argue that ending the twice-yearly shift would provide more evening light year-round and eliminate unnecessary disruption, while opponents, including advocates from groups like Save Standard Time, warn that permanent daylight saving time could lead to darker winter mornings and potential safety concerns for children’s commutes. 1 deadline approaches, the window to stop this year’s clock change is getting smaller. 5, leaving a narrowing window for lawmakers to advance the proposal before clocks are set to fall back on Nov. Supporters say ending the clock changes would eliminate what many see as an unnecessary inconvenience while preserving later sunsets throughout the year. But significant hurdles remain, it’s possible. Critics contend it could result in excessively dark winter mornings and argue permanent standard time would be the healthier alternative.
President Donald J. Trump has previously expressed support for ending the seasonal time shifts. For any change to occur, the legislation would require passage in the Senate and the president’s signature. Unless Congress takes action in the coming weeks, the existing system will remain in place, bringing earlier sunsets through November, December, and January. Bringing shorter days, earlier sunsets and a reminder that another clock change is approaching, the autumn equinox arrived this past week.
The cycle of shifting time began on March 8, 2026, when clocks initially sprang forward. Under current law, the next scheduled change is set for Sunday, March 14, 2027. Following the transition to standard time this November, the region will head toward the winter solstice on Dec. 21, 2026. This date marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, serving as the official start of astronomical winter.
For residents in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, the solstice will bring some of the year’s shortest daylight periods, totaling approximately nine hours depending on specific geographic location. After the solstice passes, daylight hours will gradually begin to increase as the season shifts toward spring. Maria Francis is a Pennsylvania-based journalist covering trending and breaking topics across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions for Network.
The practice of observing daylight saving time is not universal across the United States. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not participate in the twice-yearly shifts. Additionally, several U.S. territories remain on standard time year-round, including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
The concept of changing clocks was originally intended to shift daylight into the evening hours during warmer months, as noted by the Farmers’ Almanac. Proponents of this system emphasize the benefits of having more sunlight for outdoor activities and recreation after work. Conversely, those who favor moving to permanent standard time argue it better aligns with human biological circadian rhythms and ensures brighter mornings during the depths of winter.
Until a permanent resolution is reached in Congress, the mnemonic “spring forward, fall back” continues to dictate the annual schedule for most of the country.
