Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday: What to Know/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 2, at 2 a.m., as clocks fall back an hour. Most Americans will gain an extra hour of sleep, but not all states observe the change. The debate over eliminating daylight saving time continues, with health and political concerns fueling the discussion.
Daylight Saving Ends: Quick Looks
- Daylight saving time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2
- Clocks “fall back” one hour, gaining an hour of sleep
- Most devices reset automatically; manual clocks need updating
- Hawaii, most of Arizona, and U.S. territories do not observe DST
- DST originated during WWI to conserve energy
- U.S. made DST law under the Uniform Time Act of 1966
- Debate continues over ending or making DST permanent
- Studies link clock changes to heart attacks, obesity, and sleep disruption
Deep Look
Daylight Saving Time Ends Sunday: Here’s What You Need to Know for the 2025 Fall Time Change
As daylight saving time comes to an end, Americans will “fall back” by one hour early Sunday morning, November 2, 2025. At exactly 2 a.m., clocks across most of the United States will be set back to 1 a.m., granting people an extra hour of sleep — and marking the official start of standard time.
This annual time shift signals shorter daylight hours in the evenings and earlier sunrises, as winter approaches. For millions of Americans, it’s a familiar routine. But for others, it remains a confusing or even controversial ritual.
When Is the Time Change?
Daylight saving time officially ends at 2 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 2, 2025. At that moment, clocks roll back to 1 a.m. It began earlier this year on March 9 and will resume again on March 8, 2026, when clocks “spring forward.”
While most smartphones, computers, and digital clocks adjust automatically, analog watches, wall clocks, microwaves, and car displays may require manual resetting.
Do We Gain or Lose Time?
We gain one hour during the fall time change. That extra hour often means a bit more sleep or, for early risers, more light in the morning. However, it also means evening darkness will arrive sooner.
Where Did Daylight Saving Time Come From?
The origins of daylight saving time are often misunderstood. Though commonly attributed to farmers, the actual historical reasoning has little to do with agriculture. The first recorded use of daylight saving was in Germany in 1916 during World War I, aimed at conserving fuel and energy by extending evening daylight.
Other European countries followed suit, and the United States adopted the practice shortly thereafter. It wasn’t until 1966, however, that the U.S. standardized the practice nationwide through the Uniform Time Act, which still governs daylight saving time today.
Who Doesn’t Observe Daylight Saving Time?
Not everyone in the U.S. observes daylight saving time. The states and territories that do not change their clocks include:
- Hawaii
- Most of Arizona (except the Navajo Nation)
- American Samoa
- Guam
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Puerto Rico
- U.S. Virgin Islands
According to the Department of Transportation, which oversees time zones in the U.S., states can choose to exempt themselves from daylight saving time. However, federal law does not allow states to remain on daylight saving time year-round — only standard time.
Globally, most countries no longer observe daylight saving time, with the United States and parts of Europe being among the few that still do.
The Debate Over Changing the Clock
A 2022 CBS News/YouGov poll found that nearly 80% of Americans supported reforming the current system. Most favored permanent daylight saving time, meaning clocks would stay one hour ahead year-round.
That same year, the Sunshine Protection Act, a bipartisan bill that would have made daylight saving time permanent, passed the Senate but failed to move forward in the House of Representatives.
President Donald Trump, now in his second term, has previously supported the idea of ending time changes altogether. In a December 2024 statement on Truth Social, he criticized the biannual shift, calling daylight saving time “inconvenient and very costly to our Nation.”
Although that statement called for the elimination of daylight saving altogether, Trump has previously expressed support for keeping the clocks permanently shifted forward.
Is Daylight Saving Time Bad for Health?
More than just a nuisance, the twice-a-year time change may have real effects on physical and mental health. Numerous studies over the past decade have highlighted the negative impact of adjusting sleep schedules, especially during the spring “forward.”
According to researchers at Stanford Medicine, the clock changes are linked to increased risks of:
- Heart attacks
- Obesity
- Strokes
- Mood disorders and depression
The effects are often more pronounced in the days immediately following the time change, when people’s circadian rhythms are disrupted.
These findings have fueled public calls and legislative efforts to eliminate the biannual change and adopt a consistent time standard, whether it be daylight saving or standard time.
Looking Ahead
As the debate continues in Washington, Americans will once again reset their clocks this weekend. Whether you’re looking forward to the extra hour of rest or dreading the early sunsets, one thing is clear: daylight saving time is one of the most persistent — and polarizing — traditions in the modern calendar.
For now, remember to “fall back” before going to bed Saturday night and enjoy that extra hour while it lasts.
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