U.S. Department of Commerce proposes changes to 2030 Census

The U.S. Department of Commerce is circulating a proposed rule that would change how the 2030 census collects data. According to internal documents, the proposal seeks to cease the collection of demographic information regarding racial minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals. The rule also proposes that undocumented immigrants be excluded from the apportionment count, stating they are not "true inhabitants, members of the body politics [sic], or persons with ‘usual residence’ in the United States."

The Department claims eliminating questions about race and sexual orientation is intended "to protect from any distortions created from the inclusion of personal questions."

Experts note that these changes could significantly impact federal funding and the ability to enforce the Voting Rights Act. Danah Boyd, a professor at Cornell University, suggested that eliminating this data would make it difficult to assess inequalities or determine if congressional districts are predominantly composed of minorities, stating, "If we don’t know certain things, we can’t challenge them politically."