The debate surrounding the potential shift to permanent standard time has centered on the resulting changes to daylight hours. According to analysis from The Hill, transitioning away from the current daylight saving time system would result in a significant reduction in late-evening sunlight. Specifically, the report notes that under a permanent standard time model, the vast majority of locations in the United States would see the sun set before 8 p.m. during the summer season.

While proponents of permanent standard time often argue that it better aligns with human circadian rhythms and improves sleep quality, critics point to the loss of evening daylight as a primary drawback. The shift would effectively move an hour of daylight from the evening to the morning hours. The Hill’s report focuses on the geographical reality of this change, highlighting that the 'late sunset' experience currently enjoyed during summer months would be largely eliminated under this proposed policy change. There is no current consensus in Congress on whether to move to permanent standard time or permanent daylight saving time, despite bipartisan interest in ending the biannual practice of changing clocks.