Current Time in Washington DC

Quick Time Zone Facts

Time Zone: Eastern Time (ET) — Standard Offset: UTC-5 (EST) — DST Offset: UTC-4 (EDT)

Country: United States

This city observes Daylight Saving Time, so the UTC offset changes twice per year. Always verify the current offset when scheduling across time zones.

Political Time Zone

Washington D.C. operates on Eastern Time, and as the capital of the United States, ET effectively sets the pace for American governance. Congressional sessions, White House briefings, Supreme Court opinions, and federal agency announcements all follow Eastern Time. Media organizations worldwide track DC time for breaking political news. When people reference 'Washington time,' they mean ET.

Government & Policy

Federal government hours typically run 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ET, though Capitol Hill schedules can extend late into the evening during legislative sessions. Regulatory announcements from agencies like the SEC, FDA, and Federal Reserve are timed to ET, and financial markets watch these releases closely. The Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions, announced at 2:00 PM ET, are among the most time-sensitive events in global finance.

International Diplomacy

D.C.'s time zone matters for global diplomacy. Embassy Row and the State Department coordinate with governments worldwide, making ET a reference point for international negotiations and treaties. The 5-hour gap with London and 6-hour gap with Brussels (EU headquarters) means transatlantic diplomatic calls are a daily reality. UN coordination (headquarters in New York, same time zone) adds another layer.

DMV Scheduling

The D.C. metropolitan area — including Northern Virginia and suburban Maryland — is one of the largest metro economies in the US. Government contractors, lobbyists, and policy organizations throughout the region operate on ET. The region's proximity to East Coast cities (2.5 hours to New York by train, 1 hour to Philadelphia) makes ET coordination with the Eastern Seaboard effortless.