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Permanent DST shifts morning light to evenings, disrupting the biological clock that regulates mood and sleep.

The U.S. tried permanent DST in the 1970s and repealed it within a year due to public backlash.

Sleep scientists back permanent standard time, not DST, as the evidence-based fix.

Permanent DST could exacerbate the existing mental health and sleep deprivation in teens.

In a Washington climate defined by gridlock and deeply partisan politics, something remarkable is happening. Congress is on the verge of passing the Sunshine Protection Act, a law that would make daylight saving time permanent, with robust bipartisan support and a firm endorsement from the administration.

Why are sleep scientists pushing back against this unusual moment of political harmony?

Sleep scientists broadly agree with the overall premise behind the bill, that the twice-yearly clock change is inconvenient and, at least, acutely harmful. Each March, in the week following the clock change where we spring forward, we see a measurable spike in car crashes, heart attacks, and workplace injuries, all driven by the acute sleep loss of a single hour. Ending that biannual disruption is a legitimate public health goal. However, the disagreement lies in which permanent time to choose. Congress wants to lock in daylight saving time, and they frequently cite evidence that permanent daylight saving time is good for public........

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