Census Bureau Urged to Reconsider Changes

Stakeholder coalition The Census Project has written to the U.S. Census Bureau urging it to reconsider changes to the upcoming decennial survey which it says 'could fundamentally alter how the nation's population is counted and undermine the accuracy of census data.'

The Census Project is a coalition of more than 800 national, state and local organizations and companies in the public, private, nonprofit and research sectors, dedicated to the funding and support of the decennial census and American Community Survey (ACS). New rules currently under consideration by the administration and the Bureau would, according to the organisation, redefine who is counted and where; replace the traditional April 1st Census Day reference point with a three-month window for determining usual residence; and eliminate race and ethnicity questions asked in some form in every U.S. census for the past 236 years.

In comments submitted today (20th October), the Project warned that rules 'would unravel centuries of standard practices that have defined decennial census operations'.

According to Census Project Codirectors Mary Jo Mitchell and Howard Fienberg, 'Changes of this magnitude have the potential to drastically alter how the 2030 Census is conducted as well as its outcome,' with direct implications for congressional apportionment and the allocation of more than $2 trillion in annual federal funding. They also say there has been limited opportunity for public scrutiny: 'While we appreciate the extended comment period, it is still insufficient given the rule's potential consequences... The proposed changes would fundamentally change the nature of the nation's decennial census and, therefore, it deserves more thoughtful, robust consideration.'

The rule remains open for public comment until November 2, 2026. The coalition is online at www.thecensusproject.org .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.