The Trump administration has put forth a proposal to drastically alter the upcoming 2030 national census. Key changes include excluding immigrants without permanent residency from the population count used to determine congressional representation and electoral votes. This move could reshape the political landscape by reallocating federal funds and congressional seats across states, potentially benefiting states with fewer non-permanent resident immigrants.
Another major proposed change is the removal of questions pertaining to race and ethnicity, which have been a standard part of the census since its inception in 1790. Additionally, the administration is considering adding a question about citizenship status, a departure from previous practices. Civil rights advocates and researchers have expressed concerns that eliminating race and ethnicity data could hinder efforts related to redistricting, enforcement of the Voting Rights Act, and other anti-discrimination protections.
The proposed changes, released on Wednesday, also include dropping questions about sexual orientation. The administration has opened a 30-day public comment period for these proposals. These changes, if implemented, are expected to face considerable legal challenges, as critics argue they violate the 14th Amendment's requirement to count the "whole number of persons in each state." The potential exclusion of millions of residents could have profound implications for federal funding distribution and political power.
