Clocks Turn Back One Hour on Nov. 1
The overlap with Halloween will not recur until 2036, while the Sunshine Protection Act remains stalled in the Senate.
By Sanjay Ivanov ·
Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, Nov. 1, at 2 a.m. local time, when clocks revert to 1 a.m.
This adjustment grants an additional hour of sleep for the coming week. The date aligns with Halloween, creating a rare overlap of the time change and the holiday. The source notes that this specific alignment will not occur again until 2036.
The practice of shifting clocks was formally enacted in the United States in 1918 to provide extra sunlight during summer months. The policy was repealed after World War I, reinstated during World War II, and repealed again prior to 1966. In 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Uniform Time Act to standardize the practice. Before this legislation, local governments determined their own daylight saving schedules, which caused time discrepancies between major cities and confusion for travelers.
In 2005, President George W. Bush extended the duration of daylight saving time by four weeks through an energy bill. Since 2007, the transition has occurred on the second Sunday of March and the first Sunday of November. Hawaii and Arizona do not observe the change, with the Navajo Indian Reservation being an exception within Arizona. U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also remain on standard time.
Legislative efforts to alter the system continue in Congress. In July, the House of Representatives voted 308 to 117 to pass the Sunshine Protection Act. The bill would permit states to make daylight saving time permanent, with an option to opt out. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the measure 48 to 1 in May. In April, President Donald Trump urged Congress to end the time changes, stating they should push for more daylight at the end of the day.
Supporters of the legislation cite economic benefits such as increased tourism and outdoor recreation. President Trump is among the proponents of the bill. Opponents have raised concerns about potential negative impacts on public health. The bill is currently stalled in the Senate. It requires passage by both chambers of Congress before the President can sign it into law.
Sleep experts indicate that the time change affects the circadian rhythm, the body's internal 24-hour clock. Loss of sleep is associated with health issues including heart disease, cognitive decline, and obesity. Research shows that the March transition, which causes people to lose an hour of sleep, is followed by a spike in fatal car accidents, heart attacks, and strokes in the immediate days after. The fall transition poses challenges for individuals with seasonal affective disorder, a form of depression linked to shorter days and reduced sunlight.
The next scheduled clock change will occur on the second Sunday of March 2027, when clocks will spring forward an hour.
Source: KNSD
