Daylight Saving Time 2025: When will the US adjust its clocks? Key details on the time change

As winter gradually gives way to spring, Americans will soon have to adjust their clocks once again. The annual daylight saving time (DST) change is just weeks away, bringing longer daylight hours in the evening but at the cost of an hour of sleep.

While this practice has been in place for over a century, it remains a topic of debate, with some advocating for making daylight saving time permanent and others calling for its abolition.

As daylight saving 2025 approaches, here’s everything you need to know about when the clocks will shift and why this tradition continues.

When Does Daylight Saving Time Start in 2025?

Daylight saving time in 2025 will begin on Sunday, March 9. At 2 a.m. local time, clocks will "spring forward" by one hour, shifting daylight further into the evening hours, as mentioned in a report by USA Today.

For many, this means losing an hour of sleep, but it also extends daylight during the evening, providing more time for outdoor activities after work or school.

What Is Daylight Saving Time?

Daylight saving time is the period between March and November when most Americans set their clocks forward by one hour.

The goal is to maximize daylight in the evening and reduce energy consumption.

While the spring equinox officially marks the beginning of spring on March 20, daylight saving time helps align human activity with natural daylight patterns, ensuring brighter evenings during the warmer months.

Why Do We Have Daylight Saving Time?

One of the most persistent myths surrounding daylight saving time is that it was introduced to benefit farmers.

However, historical records show that farmers strongly opposed the practice when it was first introduced.

According to History.com, farmers found daylight saving time disruptive.

They relied on the sun rather than the clock to manage their schedules, and the shift complicated tasks like milking cows and harvesting crops.

The U.S. first implemented daylight saving time in 1918 as a wartime measure to conserve energy.

However, it was repealed in 1919 due to public opposition. Over time, various states and cities enacted their own time changes, leading to a chaotic system until Congress passed the Uniform Time Act of 1966, standardizing the practice nationwide.

Who Oversees Daylight Saving Time?

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is responsible for regulating daylight saving time and overseeing time zones.

The DOT cites benefits such as energy conservation and crime reduction as reasons for maintaining the twice-annual clock changes.

Despite repeated efforts in Congress to make daylight saving time permanent, no federal law has yet been passed to eliminate the time shift.

Which States Do Not Observe Daylight Saving Time?

Not all states participate in daylight saving time. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not adjust their clocks. Arizona opted out due to its hot desert climate, choosing to avoid longer daylight hours during peak summer heat.

However, the Navajo Nation within Arizona does observe the time change.

FAQs

Is daylight saving time permanent in the USA in 2025?

In 2022, the U.S. Senate approved the Sunshine Protection Act, aiming to eliminate the biannual clock changes and establish daylight saving time as the permanent standard year-round.

How does daylight savings work?

Daylight Saving Time (DST) is an annual practice in which clocks are set forward by one hour between March and November. The period from November to March, when clocks revert to their original time, is referred to as standard time.