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Politics

Trump administration proposes major shifts to 2030 census population counts

A new proposal seeks to omit noncitizens without green cards and remove race questions.

Latest update: The Census Bureau proposed rule details how administrative records could verify legal status while maintaining counts for lawful permanent residents.

The short version

  • The Trump administration proposed altering the 2030 census to exclude noncitizens lacking green cards and certain other foreign nationals from key totals.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera · NPR]
  • The plan also calls for ending census questions regarding race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.[The Guardian · NPR]
  • Advocates warn the changes jeopardize data used for civil rights enforcement, while Democrats accuse the administration of attempting to rig the count.[The Guardian · NPR]
  • The proposal faces anticipated court battles and constitutional challenges from advocacy organizations and opponents.[The Guardian · NPR]

Key facts

  • The Trump administration proposed changes to the 2030 census that would exclude foreign nationals and noncitizens without green cards from key population counts.[The Guardian · Al Jazeera · NPR]
  • The administration's plan proposes eliminating inquiries about race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from the census.[The Guardian · NPR]
  • Advocates and researchers warned the plan risks future data required for redistricting and antidiscrimination enforcement, and may reduce census participation.[NPR]
  • Democratic members of the House oversight committee claimed the president is attempting to rig the survey.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • Whether the proposed rules will survive anticipated constitutional scrutiny and legal challenges from advocacy groups and Democrats remains unknown.[The Guardian · NPR]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.