Daylight Saving Time ends in less than three months, meaning Illinois residents will soon have to change their clocks.
Here's what we know about the so-called "fall back," including why DST exists and if President Donald Trump is going to end it anytime soon.
When does 2025 Daylight Saving Time end in the U.S.?
Participating states turn clocks forward an hour on the second Sunday in March during the spring. Daylight Saving Time ends on the first Sunday of November in the fall of each year and that's when states turn clocks back an hour.
What time do clocks fall back for Daylight Saving Time 2025?
In the U.S., clocks will fall back at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025.
When is Daylight Saving Time in 2026?
Clocks will spring forward on Sunday, March, in 2026.
Why does Daylight Saving Time change at 2 a.m.?
In an interview with Time Magazine, author Michael Downing cited his book, "Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time," to explain how Amtrak and the railroads were the main reason clocks change at 2 a.m. for DST.
There were no trains leaving the station at 2 a.m. on Sundays in New York City when Daylight Saving Time was established.
"Sunday morning at 2 a.m. was when they would interrupt the least amount of train travel around the country,” Downing said.
Which U.S. states don't participate in Daylight Saving Time?
As of July 25, 2022, the U.S. Department of Transportation noted that only Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in daylight saving time. The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona.
The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.
According to the website, states may exempt themselves from observing daylight saving time by state law in accordance with the Uniform Time Act, as amended.
What time is it in Illinois?
Visit timeanddate.com to see the current time in Illinois.
Does Illinois observe 2025 Daylight Saving Time?
Yes, Illinois observes Daylight Saving Time.
Hawaii and parts of Arizona do not participate in Daylight Saving Time. The territories of American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also do not participate.
What is the Sunshine Protection Act?
The Sunshine Protection Act of 2021, which was created to make Daylight Saving Time the new, permanent standard time, was unanimously passed by the U.S. Senate in 2022, but it was not passed by the U.S. House of Representatives.
There is currently no news on when it will be readdressed and signed into law.
When will the U.S. get rid of Daylight Saving Time? Is DST ending permanently?
Despite the Sunshine Protection Act being unanimously approved by the U.S. Senate in 2022, there is no permanent end in sight.
Will Donald Trump end Daylight Saving Time in 2025?
In December 2024, Trump said he planned to eliminate Daylight Saving Time. He needs the approval of Congress in order to achieve this, and he had been urging them to approve.
Others hope that instead of eliminating Daylight Saving Time, it will be permanent. 20 states have advocated for this by passing measures in recent years in favor of year-round daylight saving time.
Trump expressed support for such a notion in April 2025, calling it “very popular,’’ though he has also referred to the move as a “50-50 issue.’’
Conversation in Congress about the issue is ongoing.
Did farmers starts Daylight Saving Time?
No, according to almanac.com.
"Many Americans wrongly point to farmers as the driving force behind Daylight Saving Time. In fact, farmers were its strongest opponents and, as a group, stubbornly resisted the change from the beginning," Catherine Boeckmann wrote for almanac.com.
"When the war ended, the farmers and working-class people who had held their tongues began speaking out. They demanded an end to Daylight Saving Time, claiming it benefited only office workers and the leisure class. The controversy spotlighted the growing gap between rural and urban dwellers."
This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Daylight Saving 2025: When do Illinois clocks fall back? Will Trump end DST?
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