Census and Demographics

OMB Chief Statistician Mark Calabria said Dec. 5 the Trump administration has begun reviewing 2024-approved federal standards for collecting race and ethnicity, including for the 2030 census, potentially reconsidering new Middle Eastern/North African and Hispanic/Latino checkboxes and the combined race/ethnicity question. The review follows OMB’s September notice extending agencies’ compliance deadline into 2029 while stating the Biden-era revisions remain in effect; advocates warn changes could undermine data used for redistricting and civil-rights enforcement.