Trick-or-treaters planning to maximize Halloween and squeeze in an extra hour of late-night fun may have to wrap up earlier this year if President Donald Trump gets his way in making daylight saving time permanent, ending the twice-yearly clock switch.
However, the good news (or the bad) for now is that Americans are still expected to turn their clocks back on Nov. 1 as daylight saving time comes to an end, even after the House passed legislation that would keep clocks forward year-round. The reason? The Senate is in recess until Sept. 14, and key lawmakers have questioned whether there are enough votes to pass the measure before the fall time change arrives.
That means the question about whether this will be the year the country stops changing its clocks remains. But will it impact Halloween, which falls on the eve of the clock switch? Here's what to know.
DST: Here's what it means if daylight saving time becomes permanent
Unless Congress acts, daylight saving time is scheduled to end at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, when clocks move back one hour to 1 a.m.
The shift gives Americans an extra hour of sleep but also brings earlier sunsets throughout the winter.
So far, the clock change is unlikely to impact Halloween, considering the day (Oct. 31) would already be over by the time daylight saving time ends and clocks jump back an hour from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m. local time. However, if the clock change doesn't take place, those looking to get an extra hour of spookiness post-midnight will not get that chance.
Trump has long supported ending the twice-yearly clock changes.
In an Aug. 4 post on Truth Social, he called the practice "foolish, inconvenient and, in some cases, very costly."
"People are sick and tired of having to change their clocks twice a year," Trump wrote.
The president argued that Americans overwhelmingly support the move and highlighted what he described as the benefits of permanent daylight saving time, including fewer traffic accidents, lower crime, energy savings and more time for families and outdoor activities.
"In other words, leave it as it is now, and never change again," Trump wrote. "LET'S PASS THE SUNSHINE PROTECTION ACT, ASAP."
While the debate over clock switching takes place almost every year, it gained new attention after Trump publicly urged senators to approve the Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight saving time permanent and eliminate the twice-yearly clock changes.
The House approved the bill in July, but its fate in the Senate remains uncertain. With two months left until clocks are set to "fall back," lawmakers are running short on time if they hope to change the system before Nov. 1.
Even with support from Trump and lawmakers in both parties, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-South Dakota, has questioned whether enough senators support the legislation.
If the Senate approves the measure, it would head to Trump's desk for his signature. Until that happens, Americans should still plan on changing their clocks Nov. 1.
While many experts support ending the clock changes, they don't necessarily agree with Trump's preferred approach.
Sleep and health researchers say moving clocks twice a year disrupts the body's circadian rhythm, which regulates sleep and other biological functions. The spring time change, when clocks move forward an hour, has been linked to sleep disruption, traffic crashes and increased health risks.
But many specialists argue that permanent standard time, not permanent daylight saving time, would be the healthier option.
Erik Herzog, a biology and neuroscience professor at Washington University in St. Louis and former president of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, previously told USA TODAY that permanent standard time would better align with the body's natural clock.
Some religious communities also oppose permanent daylight saving time.
Rabbi Josh Joseph of the Orthodox Union said many Jewish religious practices are tied to sunrise and sunset, which determine prayer times and observances. Later winter sunrises could make morning prayers more difficult, particularly in parts of the Midwest and Mountain West.
Some Muslim communities have raised similar concerns because certain daily prayers must be completed by dawn.
More: Permanent daylight saving time threatens Jewish prayer
No. Several states and U.S. territories remain on standard time year-round:
Most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation)
Most of the rest of the country continues to switch between daylight saving time and standard time each year.
Public opinion polls suggest many Americans have grown tired of the twice-yearly ritual.
A 2023 YouGov survey found 62% favored eliminating clock changes. A January 2025 Gallup poll found 54% wanted to end the practice, though Americans were divided over whether the nation should adopt permanent daylight saving time or permanent standard time.
Contributing: Reuters; Bart Jensen, Zachary Schermele, Jorge L. Ortiz, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Emily DeLetter, Julia Gomez, Kinsey Crowley, Marc Ramirez / USA TODAY
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's clock plan could affect Halloween