Full Breakdown
Daylight Saving Time Ends This Weekend Amid Ongoing Push for Permanent Change
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
Core Event: Seasonal Clock Change Returns in 2026
On the first Sunday of November 2026, clocks across most of the United States will be set back one hour at 2 a.m. local time, giving the nation an extra hour of sleep and returning the country to standard time for the winter months.
Watch
Related reporting
cbsnews
Video: Here's how daylight saving time was created as House passes bill to make it permanent
02
Background & Context: History and the Current Legislative Push
Daylight saving time was first adopted in the United States in 1918 as a wartime fuel-conservation measure. The Uniform Time Act of 1966 created a nationwide schedule, later adjusted in 2007 to begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.
Earlier this year, the Sunshine Protection Act—legislation that would make daylight saving time permanent nationwide while permitting states to opt out—cleared the House in July and moved to the Senate for consideration.
03
Timeline of the 2026 DST Cycle
Swipe across the table to see all columns.
| Date (2026-2027) | Event |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2026 (occurred) | Daylight saving time began for the year. |
| First Sunday of November 2026 | Clocks fall back one hour, ending daylight saving time. |
| March 14, 2027 (scheduled) | Daylight saving time resumes at 2 a.m. local time. |
04
Data & Statistics: Observance and Sunrise/Sunset Shifts
- States and territories that do not observe DST: Hawaii; most of Arizona; the Navajo Nation (which does observe the change); American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
- Boston example: Before the November change sunrise is 7:16 a.m. and sunset 5:39 p.m.; after the rollback sunrise shifts to 6:17 a.m. and sunset to 4:37 p.m.
- Public impact: The extra hour can benefit adults seeking more sleep but may disrupt children’s schedules and bring earlier winter sunsets.
05
Official Statements & Responses
- President Donald Trump – a supporter of the Sunshine Protection Act – accused Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton of obstructing the bill, posting what he claimed was Cotton’s cellphone number and urging the public to call the senator.
- U.S. House of Representatives – passed the Sunshine Protection Act with bipartisan backing in July, sending the proposal to the Senate.
06
Impact on Residents
The November “fall back” gives most Americans an additional hour of sleep and slightly earlier winter sunsets. In upstate New York, winter mornings will be darker, with sunrise after 8 a.m., while evening daylight persists longer. The total amount of daylight does not change; it is simply redistributed.
07
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The Senate has not yet voted on the Sunshine Protection Act, so the scheduled clock rollback remains in effect. The bill’s future depends on Senate action before the new Congress convenes in early January.
08
What’s Next: Legislative Outlook
If the Senate does not approve the Sunshine Protection Act before the incoming class of lawmakers takes office, the proposal will expire and the twice-yearly clock changes will continue as scheduled. Lawmakers and advocacy groups are expected to revisit the issue in the next congressional session.