President Trump has proposed major changes to the 2030 census that would alter how the country counts its population. The plans would exclude certain immigrants from the tally used to allocate congressional seats. They would also remove questions about race and ethnicity from the survey.
The census currently counts all residents, regardless of citizenship status. Trump’s proposal would break from that longstanding practice. Excluding immigrants could shift political power away from states with large immigrant populations.
Removing race and ethnicity questions marks another sharp departure. Those data have been collected for decades to track inequality. Without them, researchers and policymakers would lose a key tool for measuring disparities.
The census determines how many House seats each state receives. It also guides the distribution of billions in federal funding. Changes to who is counted could reshape both for the next decade.
Civil rights groups and demographers have criticized the proposals. They argue the changes would undercount communities of color and weaken representation. Legal challenges are expected if the plans move forward.
The proposals are part of a broader effort to reshape federal data collection. Similar debates played out during the 2020 census. That cycle faced disputes over citizenship questions and pandemic-related delays.
Officials would need congressional approval for some changes. Others could be implemented through executive action. The outcome will likely depend on courts and the balance of power in Washington.
