Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Push to End Daylight Saving Time, But Congress Holds the Key – JP

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy have voiced their desire to end the semiannual daylight saving time (DST) clock changes, with Ramaswamy calling the policy “inefficient and easy to change.” Their comments came after Musk shared an X (formerly Twitter) poll showing widespread public support for abolishing the “annoying” time change. Many political figures, including Donald Trump Jr., echoed their sentiments, with many calling for permanent daylight saving time to be adopted.

However, despite the vocal backing from influential figures, there’s a major hurdle to this proposal. Congress holds the power to make any change to federal time laws, and efforts to do so have been ongoing for years.

Daylight saving time was established by Congress through the Uniform Time Act of 1966. The law placed the Department of Transportation (DOT) in charge of enforcing DST, while allowing states to opt out. However, states cannot choose to remain on permanent daylight saving time. Only two states—Arizona and Hawaii—are exempt from observing DST due to their unique geographical and environmental circumstances.

Musk and Ramaswamy are pushing for a shift, but the change they envision would require Congress to act. While states can exempt themselves from observing DST, they cannot unilaterally decide to stay on permanent daylight saving time, meaning any nationwide change would require new federal legislation.

One such legislative effort is the Sunshine Protection Act, which was first proposed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) in 2021. The bill has garnered bipartisan support, including backing from Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), who has emphasized that “Americans want more sunshine in the chilly, winter months.”

Proponents of the bill argue that permanent daylight saving time would improve safety and well-being by offering more sunlight during the evening hours, particularly in the winter months when it gets dark too early. Advocates say this could reduce the risk of seasonal depression and increase safety during the evening commute, which often takes place in the dark.

While the Sunshine Protection Act has gained traction, it’s also faced opposition. Critics warn that the change could be dangerous for students commuting to school early in the morning, as it could reduce visibility during those dark early hours. They also argue that such a change could negatively impact people’s circadian rhythms, potentially causing disruptions to sleep patterns.

The bill passed the Senate with unanimous consent but has yet to come to a vote in the House of Representatives. It remains to be seen whether Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) will bring the bill to the House floor for a vote.

Musk and Ramaswamy’s push for ending DST raises questions about whether their efforts will extend beyond lobbying Congress. The involvement of DOGE (Dogecoin) has been hinted at, with the creation of a House Oversight subcommittee focused on Dogecoin, which is led by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). A new DOGE House Caucus has also been established, spearheaded by Reps. Pete Sessions (R-TX) and Aaron Bean (R-FL), and it’s expected that members of this caucus will vote in line with initiatives proposed by the advisory panel.

On Tuesday, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) announced he would be the first Democrat to join the DOGE caucus, signaling that bipartisan cooperation might play a role in furthering this legislative agenda, including efforts related to time changes.

While Musk and Ramaswamy’s goals might align with public sentiment, the complex legal and legislative landscape means that any significant changes to how the U.S. observes time would require careful navigation of federal law and Congressional approval.