Commerce Department removes political interference ban

The U.S. Commerce Department has quietly removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy. This unannounced revision, dated August 19, follows a highly unusual Census Bureau report regarding non-U.S. citizen voting. That report was produced by a team with ties to a think tank founded by officials from the first Trump administration.

The policy change affects all agencies under the Commerce Department, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The previous version of the policy, established in January 2025, explicitly sought to ensure that scientific findings were not suppressed, delayed, or altered for political purposes and were protected from 'inappropriate influence.'

Data experts and former Census Bureau officials have expressed concerns regarding the potential for political interference at the agency. This comes as the Census Bureau prepares for the 2030 national headcount, which determines the redistribution of federal funding and political representation for the coming decade.