2030 Census Proposal Excludes Noncitizens, Sparks Legal and Funding Fights
The Trump administration has proposed a rule for the 2030 census that would exclude noncitizens without permanent resident status from the population count used to apportion congressional seats and allocate federal funds. The proposal, published in September, also seeks to remove questions on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation from the short-form questionnaire. Critics, including civil rights groups and Democrats, warn this will shift political power to states with fewer immigrants and reduce funding for healthcare and education. Supporters argue counting all residents encourages illegal immigration and distorts voter equality. Public comments are due by November 2, ahead of the 2026 election. Legal challenges are expected, as the 14th Amendment mandates counting the 'whole number of persons.'