Should U.S. end Daylight Saving Time?

PUBLISHED: June 18, 2026 | www.baltimoresun.com

The debate over whether to retain Daylight Saving Time has persisted for decades. For some, the concern is enjoying longer summer evenings. For others, it is about sleep and aligning daily life with the rhythms of nature.

Jay Pea, President of Save Standard Time, whose annual convention is being held in Baltimore this week, has devoted years to making the case for permanent Standard Time, arguing that our clocks should follow the sun rather than political convenience.

The Baltimore Sun sat down for a conversation with Pea on the issue. It has been edited for length and clarity.

What is the strongest evidence that permanent Daylight Saving Time improves the quality of life for Americans?

Actually, I would argue the opposite. The evidence points toward permanent Standard Time improving quality of life. Scientific studies have found that Daylight Saving Time reduces both sleep quality and sleep duration, which can negatively affect health, safety, school performance and workplace productivity.

How do researchers measure those effects?

There are numerous studies examining sleep duration and sleep quality. One study found that people sleep an average of 19 minutes less per night while observing Daylight Saving Time. Standard Time aligns more closely with our natural circadian rhythms, leading to better sleep outcomes.

Does that affect all age groups equally?

It affects everyone, but adolescents are especially vulnerable. Teenagers naturally tend toward later sleep schedules, and Daylight Saving Time can make that misalignment even worse.

Many people argue that changing the clocks twice a year disrupts productivity. Is that true?

Yes. The transition itself, particularly when we “spring forward,” creates an immediate disruption. But beyond that, remaining on Daylight Saving Time can create a chronic misalignment that continues affecting sleep and productivity. Permanent Standard Time would eliminate both problems.

Why has Congress struggled for so long to settle this issue?

Part of the challenge is that responsibility is divided between the states and the federal government. States often say Congress should act, while Congress says the states should act. There is also a widespread assumption that permanent Daylight Saving Time would preserve the pleasant summer evenings year-round, but changing the clock cannot make winter days longer.

What about the economic argument? Restaurants, retailers, and other businesses often support more evening daylight.

There may be some benefits for businesses that depend on evening activity, but those gains come at a cost to businesses that rely on morning activity. If productivity declines because people are sleeping less, the broader economy can suffer as a result.

Some advocates claim changing the clock could reduce crime and traffic accidents. What do you make of those arguments?

Many of those claims focus on a narrow category of crime or a specific time of year. When you look more broadly, the results become much less clear. I believe time should reflect the position of the sun. Standard Time is essentially our natural time. Daylight Saving Time is an artificial adjustment that encourages people to wake up earlier than their biological clocks prefer, which often results in less sleep.

What can America learn from countries that have experimented with permanent Daylight Saving Time?

Most countries operate on permanent Standard Time. The United States briefly experimented with permanent Daylight Saving Time in 1974, and public support quickly collapsed. Russia tried it in 2011 and later reversed course. The United Kingdom also experimented with it. Historically, permanent Daylight Saving Time has proven difficult to sustain, while Standard Time has been far more durable.

If Congress decided to act tomorrow, what would implementation look like?

The simplest solution would be to eliminate the requirement that clocks change twice a year. That would leave the nation on permanent Standard Time. I oppose proposals that would instead mandate permanent Daylight Saving Time nationwide.

How does this debate affect physical health?

Good health depends on proper nutrition, exercise, and quality sleep. Sleep itself depends on duration, quality, and timing. Human beings are designed to sleep when it is dark and be awake when it is light. Daylight Saving Time disrupts that natural rhythm by pushing people to wake earlier relative to sunrise.

I grew up on a farm, and I can honestly say changing the clock never affected my routine. I still get up before dawn and go about my day. Many Americans probably feel the same way.

That’s certainly true for some people. I live in Arizona, which remains on Standard Time year-round. One thing I appreciate is having more daylight in the morning for exercise and productivity before the workday begins. But no clock adjustment can change the realities of the seasons. Winter mornings and evenings will always be different from summer.

How did you become involved in this cause?

My grandparents were farmers in Iowa, and my great-grandfather taught me how to tell time by the sun. I’ve believed for most of my life that Standard Time simply makes more sense. Around 2018 and 2019, when the issue gained national attention, I realized many policymakers were advocating permanent Daylight Saving Time instead. I started speaking out, launched a social media presence, contacted legislators, formed a nonprofit organization, and eventually began traveling the country discussing the issue.

If you had two minutes before a joint session of Congress, what would you tell lawmakers?

I would tell them that permanent Standard Time is the natural clock. It aligns more closely with the sun, our history and our biology. Science, history and common sense all point toward Standard Time as the better option for health, safety, education and economic performance.