Americans will turn their clocks back one hour on November 1, 2026, as daylight saving time ends. But why does the clock change still happen, and why can’t the US just pick one time? Here is the full picture.

Daylight saving time was introduced to make better use of evening daylight and save energy. In spring, clocks move forward an hour; in autumn, they move back. The Sunshine Protection Act, which would make daylight time permanent, passed the House 308-117 on July 14 but is now stuck in the Senate, blocked by Senator Tom Cotton.

Cotton argues permanent daylight time would force children to wait for school buses in winter darkness. Health experts are split: some say darker mornings disrupt sleep, while others say the clock switches themselves cause accidents and heart problems. With the Senate adjourned until after the November 3 midterms, Americans will keep springing forward and falling back for at least another year.