Census Bureau Stops Plans for 2020 Census Advisory Committee

What’s the story?

• The U.S. Census Bureau has stopped plans to form a new advisory committee for the 2020 census, according to a report by NPR.

“Members of the 2020 Census Advisory Committee were supposed to offer advice on all aspects of the constitutionally mandated headcount, which is facing a bevy of new challenges including the use of iPhones by census workers collecting responses door-to-door” and the addition of a citizenship question.

• Census Bureau spokesperson Michael Cook released a statement to NPR, explaining why the bureau decided to forgo creating a new committee as planned:

"In light of our well-versed existing external resources, the National Advisory Committee (NAC) and Census Scientific Advisory Committee (CSAC), the Census Bureau decided to utilize its current advisors."

Why does it matter?

• Both of the bureau’s existing advisory committees have issued strong criticism against the Trump administration’s plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census.
• Marc Morial, the president of the National Urban League who chaired the 2010 Census Advisory Committee, told NPR he thinks the Census Bureau is making a "mistake."

"What this all feeds into is whether there's a intentionality to prevent a complete count or that the [Census Bureau] doesn't want transparency, doesn't want accountability," he said.

What do you think?

Do you support the bureau shuttering the 2020 Census Advisory Committee? Do you support adding a question about citizenship to the 2020 Census? Will you or members of your community choose not to participate in the Census because of this change? Hit Take Action and tell your reps, then share your thoughts below.

Also:

• The Census Bureau is accepting public comments on the Trump administration’s plan to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census. To submit your comment before the August 7 deadline, click here.
•  The bureau is accepting nominations for five new members of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee until September 25.
• The Census Bureau has extended the deadline for submitting nominations for seven new members of the National Advisory Committee to September 4.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: liveslow / iStock)