Trump Administration Pushes Permanent Daylight Saving and Penn Station Rename

The Trump administration is pressing Congress to establish permanent daylight saving time and implement sweeping transportation policy changes before federal programs expire on September 30. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has advocated for the Sunshine Protection Act, which passed the House of Representatives, arguing that eliminating biannual clock changes would reduce traffic deaths and business costs. President Donald Trump has personally lobbied senators to support the measure, though it faces opposition from Republicans concerned about school bus safety and construction hazards.

Simultaneously, the administration is seeking to redirect federal transportation priorities. Secretary Duffy has urged Congress to deprioritize bicycle lanes and mass transit, reduce funding for electric vehicle charging stations, and accelerate the adoption of self-driving cars. The House's proposed five-year funding bill includes $580 billion and a $130 annual road repair fee for electric vehicle owners.

In New York, the administration is directing Amtrak to rename Penn Station as part of a projected $8 billion redesign. While Secretary Duffy suggested the name "Trump Station" has a nice ring to it, President Trump claimed Senator Chuck Schumer suggested the change. Democratic lawmakers, including Schumer and Representative Jerry Nadler, have condemned the proposal as a vanity project. The administration is also requesting $1 billion in reconstruction funds for the hub and seeking authority to condition federal funds on a transit agency's progress in reducing crime.