Permanent daylight saving time? Schools and students would suffer, experts say

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White House Headlines - September 23, 2026

White House Headlines - September 23, 2026

A major hurdle stands in the way of permanent daylight saving time: schools.  

Despite momentum from the White House, lawmakers in the lower chamber and nearly 20 states to stop switching the clocks, the Senate does not seem ready to make the leap — largely because of how schools would be affected by the change.

Sunrise coming after 8 a.m. is an unattractive option for many, including sleep experts who warn of the health implications for both students and educators because most schools begin the day earlier than that.

“I think lawmakers are right to be concerned about artificially shifting our clocks and sleep schedules twice a year, but they have it wrong. We need to be making standard time permanent and not daylight savings time,” said Jessica Hamilton, an associate professor in Rutgers University’s psychology department.

“So, we really need to be aligning our clocks and our bodies to the sun, which promotes our health, and making a permanent daylight savings time actually is likely to harm the health and well-being of young people and adults,” Hamilton added. 

President Trump has personally pushed for lawmakers to pass a bill that would make daylight saving time permanent across the country. 

The House in July passed the Sunshine Protection Act of 2025 in a 308-117 vote. Nineteen states are also ready for the change, passing laws to make daylight saving time permanent if it gets approved by Congress.  

Around half of Americans also support permanent daylight........

© The Hill