Overview

• Daylight saving time (DST) was introduced in the U.S. during World War I and later standardized in 1966, though Arizona, Hawaii, and U.S. territories do not observe it.
• A recent Gallup poll shows 54% of Americans now oppose DST, with a majority favoring year-round standard time instead of biannual clock changes.
• Research indicates DST has minimal energy-saving benefits and may increase energy use due to extended air conditioning use during longer daylight hours.
• Health studies link DST to higher risks of heart attacks, strokes, and car accidents, particularly in the weeks following the spring transition.
• Legislation to make DST permanent, such as the Sunshine Protection Act, has gained traction but remains stalled at the federal level.