daylight savings time ends

Why We’re ‘Falling Back’ This November – And Why Some Want to Stop

Every fall, millions of Americans reach for their clocks, phones, and microwaves to turn back the hands of time by one hour. This ritual, known as daylight saving time (DST) ends, is more than just a minor inconvenience — it’s a moment that affects sleep, safety, health, and even politics. As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, one question echoes across households: When does daylight saving time end in 2025?

According to verified reports from The Hill, Austin American-Statesman, and USA Today, daylight saving time will officially end on Sunday, November 2, 2025, at 2:00 a.m. local time. On that morning, clocks will “fall back” one hour, giving most Americans an extra hour of sleep — but also ushering in earlier sunsets and darker evenings.

But beyond the simple time change lies a deeper debate: Should we keep doing this at all? While the shift is routine, the conversation around ending seasonal clock changes has gained serious momentum in recent years. Let’s explore what’s happening, why it matters, and what the future might hold.

The Countdown Begins: What You Need to Know for 2025

As confirmed by USA Today and Austin American-Statesman, daylight saving time will conclude on November 2, 2025. At precisely 2:00 a.m. local time, clocks across most of the United States will revert to standard time, effectively “gaining” an hour. This means:

• Sunrise and sunset will occur one hour earlier on the clock.
• The sun will set as early as 4:30 p.m. in northern states by late November.
• Most Americans will wake up to darker mornings and lighter evenings — at least temporarily.

The change applies to 48 states; Arizona (except the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii remain on permanent standard time and do not observe DST. Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands also opt out.

“It’s not just about resetting your microwave,” says Dr. Elizabeth Klerman, a sleep scientist at Harvard Medical School. “Even a one-hour shift can disrupt circadian rhythms, especially in children and older adults.”

While the “fall back” is often seen as the easier transition — giving people an extra hour of sleep — experts warn that the adjustment can still take days. The body’s internal clock, or circadian rhythm, doesn’t instantly adapt to the new light-dark cycle. This mismatch can lead to fatigue, mood changes, and even increased risk of accidents.

Recent Updates: The Push to ‘Lock the Clocks’ Gains Steam

In recent years, the annual time change has sparked a national debate — and 2025 may be a pivotal year.

According to The Hill, lawmakers across the country are reigniting efforts to “lock the clocks” — meaning end the twice-yearly time changes once and for all. While momentum stalled in Congress during the pandemic, the issue has returned to the spotlight.

Key Developments in 2024–2025

• March 2024: The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent, was reintroduced in both the U.S. House and Senate. Though it passed the Senate unanimously in 2022, it failed to advance in the House. Supporters argue it’s time to finish what was started.

• July 2024: A bipartisan group of senators, including Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Ed Markey (D-MA), held a press conference urging House leadership to bring the bill to a vote. “We’re not asking for radical change — just consistency,” Rubio stated.

• October 2024: A Pew Research Center survey found that 63% of Americans support ending seasonal clock changes. Of those, 44% prefer permanent DST, while 19% favor permanent standard time.

• January 2025: Several states, including Tennessee, Oregon, and Washington, introduced legislation to adopt year-round DST — but only if Congress allows it. Currently, federal law prohibits states from making DST permanent without congressional approval.

• March 2025: The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) released a report estimating that the fall time change leads to a $1.5 billion drop in retail sales over the following week, due to shorter daylight hours and reduced consumer activity.

These developments show that the conversation isn’t just about convenience — it’s about public health, economic impact, and national policy.

“We’re stuck in a 100-year-old system that no longer fits modern life,” says Dr. Beth Malow, director of the Sleep Division at Vanderbilt University. “The science is clear: permanent DST aligns better with human biology and modern work schedules.”

The History Behind the Time Change: Why Did We Start This?

To understand why we still “fall back” every year, we need to go back over a century.

World War I and the Birth of DST

Daylight saving time was first implemented in the U.S. during World War I, under the Standard Time Act of 1918. The goal? To conserve fuel by extending daylight hours during the workday. Germany had already adopted the practice, and the U.S. followed suit.

After the war, DST was repealed — but reinstated during World War II as “War Time.” From 1945 to 1966, states and cities set their own DST rules, leading to chaos. In one infamous case, a 35-mile bus ride from Ohio to West Virginia could involve five time changes.

The Uniform Time Act of 1966

To end the confusion, Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, which standardized DST across the country. States could still opt out — which is why Arizona and Hawaii don’t observe it — but those that did had to follow the same start and end dates.

Originally, DST ran from the last Sunday in April to the last Sunday in October. But in 2005, the Energy Policy Act extended DST to March to November, adding nearly a month to the period. The rationale: more evening daylight would reduce energy use.

Did It Actually Save Energy?

Here’s where things get murky. While the 2005 extension was based on the idea that DST reduces electricity use, recent studies suggest the opposite.

• A 2008 study by the U.S. Department of Energy found only a 0.5% reduction in electricity demand — far less than expected.
• A 2020 study in Energy Policy showed that DST actually increases residential electricity use due to higher heating and cooling needs in the evenings.

“The original rationale — energy savings — no longer holds,” says Dr. David Gerard, an energy economist at the University of Chicago. “We’ve moved from a coal-powered economy to a digital one, where lighting is a tiny fraction of total energy use.”

So why keep it? Tradition, inertia, and a lack of consensus on what to replace it with.

Immediate Effects: What Happens When We Fall Back?

The fall time change isn’t just a minor annoyance — it has real, measurable consequences.

1. Health and Sleep Disruption

Even a one-hour shift can throw off your circadian rhythm, the internal 24-hour clock that regulates sleep, mood, and metabolism.

• A 2023 study in Sleep Medicine Reviews found that the fall transition leads to short-term increases in insomnia, fatigue, and mood disturbances.
• The American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) has long advocated for eliminating seasonal clock changes, citing risks of cardiovascular events, strokes, and workplace injuries.

“The ‘fall back’ may give you an extra hour of sleep, but your body doesn’t get the message,” says Dr. Klerman. “It can take up to two weeks to fully adjust.”

2. Safety and Accidents

The shift to darker evenings increases the risk of traffic accidents, especially during the 5–7 p.m. rush hour.

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports a 6% increase in pedestrian fatalities in the week after the fall time change.
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