Appropriations Update
The federal government, including the U.S. Census Bureau, remains funded at its Fiscal Year 2024 levels through March 14, 2025, when the current Continuing Resolution expires.
In related news, the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittees in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, which fund the Census Bureau, announced their leaders and new member appointments. In a blog, The Census Project reported that three new Republican members were appointed to the House CJS subcommittee. Representative Mark Alford (R-MO), Representative Dale Strong (R-AL), and Representative Riley Moore (R-WV). On the Democratic Side, Representative Glenn Ivey (D-MD), Representative Madeleine Dean (D-PA), and Representative Frank Mrvan (D-IN) were appointed. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY) was appointed to serve as the new Ranking Member of the CJS Subcommittee as well.
On the Senate side, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), the Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the committee’s Vice Chair, issued a joint press release announcing assignments to the committee’s 12 subcommittees. Their announcement confirmed that the Senate CJS Appropriations Subcommittee will be chaired by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS) with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) serving as its ranking member. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Senator Kristen Gillibrand (D-NY) are new appointments to the Senate CJS Subcommittee.
Policy Update
Director Santos Resigns
On Thursday, January 30, U.S. Census Bureau Robert Santos announced he would be resigning as the agency’s Director. In an email sent to members of the 2030 Census Advisory Committee, Director Santos stated that “I am humbled and honored to have been the director of this most amazing federal statistical agency.” Additionally, he highlighted that during his time in office, “public engagement has been a priority. Building generational trust across communities and tribal nations is foundational to ensuring our methods, data, and products are timely, of high quality, and relevant.”
His initial announcement did not indicate his last day in office.
The Census Project issued a blog which also provides links to related stories and statements, including a statement by Mary Jo Mitchell, The Census Project Co-Director, thanking Director Santos for his service and praising his accomplishments.
President Trump Signs Executive Orders
One of the 26 executive orders issued by President Trump on his first day in office included a provision that rescinded President Biden’s Executive Order 13986, “Ensuring a Lawful and Accurate Enumeration and Apportionment Pursuant to the Decennial Census.” That order that former President Biden signed on January 20, 2021, required “non-citizens to be counted in the 2020 census, both for the purposes of enumeration and determining congressional apportionment.”
119th Congress Organizes—Key Census Committee Assignments Posted
Throughout the month of January, key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S Senate responsible for funding and overseeing the U.S. Census Bureau announced their leadership and rosters. The Census Project issued two blogs summarizing major assignments in the House and Senate, including those made to the Commerce, Justice Science Appropriations Subcommittees in both chambers and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Commerce Secretary Nominee Lutnick Questioned About Census
On January 29, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee held a hearing to consider the nomination of Howard Lutnick to be the next Secretary of the Department of Commerce, the parent agency of the U.S. Census Bureau. During the hearing Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) questioned Mr. Lutnick about the census, asking if he would carry out the work of the Bureau in an apolitical manner. The Census Project blog provides complete coverage of the question and Mr. Lutnick’s response.
The Committee has scheduled a committee vote on Mr. Lutnick’s nomination for February 5.
Government Accountability Office Issues Census Reports
In January, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative agency of Congress, issued two reports of interest to census stakeholders. A summary of the 2020 Census: Coverage Errors and Challenges Inform 2030 Plans report was featured in a January 18 Census Project blog, while the Population Estimates: Results of the Census Bureau’s Challenge Program report was featured in a January 10 blog.
Equal Representation Act Reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives
As reported by The Census Project, on January 3, 2025, U. S. Representative Chuck Edwards (R-NC-11) reintroduced a bill, the Equal Representation Act, that would add a citizenship question to the decennial census. In addition, the bill, H.R. 151, would “require reporting on certain census statistics, and to modify apportionment of Representatives to be based on United States citizens instead of all persons.” Historically, every Census since 1790 has counted everyone resident in the country, and Apportionment has been based on total population. A related press release is posted on Rep. Edwards’ home page. The bill was referred to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee for further consideration.
Freedom from Government Surveys Act Introduced in US Senate
On January 28, Senator Jim Risch (R-ID) introduced The Freedom from Government Surveys Act, which would make the American Community Survey voluntary and eliminate the penalty for non-response. The bill, S. 265, was referred to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Commtitee for further consideration.
Election Data Service Issues Reapportionment Report
A new report from Election Data Services, using the latest population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, projects net changes in Congressional reapportionment following the 2030 Census. See a related Census Project blog for additional information.
Stakeholders Perspectives
Standard Deviations Blog
On January 21, The Census Project published a Standard Deviations blog, “Distribution of Census Blocks with Children and No Adults in the 2020 Census.” In their submission, the authors, William O’Hare, Consultant to the Count All Kids Campaign, and Ron Prevost, Senior Vice President for Demographic Analysis, Demographic Analytics Advisors, explain “how Differential Privacy creates so many child-only blocks compared to the process to the privacy protection method used in the 2010 Census (swapping).”
Prison Policy Initiatives Issues Response to “View from the States”
On January 30, the Prison Policy Initiative issued a brief, responding to the Census Bureau’s report, “View from the States,” which highlights feedback regarding the Bureau’s redistricting data program. Specifically, PPI’s brief highlights “what the report said about efforts to end prison gerrymandering and state dissatisfaction with the Bureau for clinging to its flawed way of counting incarcerated people.”
Census Bureau Blogs
Census Bureau Director Robert Santos published a blog on January 13, “American Indian and Alaska Native Groups Will Provide Input on Improving Their Data.” The blog describes initiatives that the agency has pursued in conjunction with AIAN communities to improve data quality and access.
Census Bureau Releases
On January 30, the Census Bureau released the 2023 Community Resilience Estimates (CRE), which highlight socially vulnerable areas in the United States.
On January 30, January 16, and January 2, the Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis.
New findings from the Census Bureau’s National Experimental Well-Being Statistics (NEWS) project were released on January 29. NEWS is a research-driven project to improve how the Census Bureau measures income and poverty. NEWS does this by exploring new methods for creating these economic “well-being” indicators by looking back at data collections from previous years, using a wider range of data sources, and applying new advanced analysis techniques.
On January 21, the 2022 Nonemployer Statistics (NES) estimates of the U.S. Marine Economy were released. NES is a data product that provides subnational economic data for businesses that have no paid employees, are subject to federal income tax, and have receipts of $1,000 or more ($1 or more for the Construction sector).
An expanded version of Veteran Employment Outcomes (VEO), an experimental data product showing earnings and employment outcomes for veterans of the U.S. armed forces was announced on January 14.
The December 2024 Business Formation Statistics (BFS) were released on January 10.
The Bureau released on January 7 new social, economic, housing and demographic statistics from the 2023 American Community Survey (ACS) for the 119th Congress.
News You Can Use
Below are several articles posted on The Census Project home page in January 2025. For a complete listing, go to: 2025 Media – The Census Project
Census Bureau Director Robert Santos is resigning, making way for Trump’s pick
NPR
January 30, 2025
Lutnick vows to count ‘each whole person’ in the census
Politico
January 29, 2025
Risch Proposes Bill to End Mandatory Government Surveys
Big Country News
January 28, 2025
NC representatives push to block noncitizens from Census count
The Carolina Journal
January 24, 2025
Facts About the U.S. Black Population
Pew Research Center
January 23, 2025
Trump rescinds Biden’s census order, clearing a path for reshaping election maps
NPR
January 21, 2025
How Immigration Affects the US Economy
Bloomberg
January 15, 2025
Census Citizenship Question Back in The House
MrWeb
January 13, 2025
Election math looks like it’s just going to get easier for the GOP
The Hill
January 12, 2025
Population Map Shows States Growing, Shrinking Fastest in 2024
Newsweek
January 8, 2025
The fastest growing (and shrinking) U.S. counties
AXIOS
January 5, 2025
