Major changes regarding who would be counted in the 2030 U.S. Census are open for comment through Nov. 2, 2026.
A recent rule proposal from the Census Bureau was published Sep. 10 to the Federal Register with an atypically tight window for public consideration and comment. The concerning proposal includes two major changes ahead of the 2030 U.S. Census regarding who would be counted and what data would be collected. Amplifying concern is that these changes will likely set the population baselines through 2040.
- The first proposed change (Part 60) would exclude undocumented immigrants and many temporary-status noncitizens from the population count used for congressional apportionment and would establish new residence criteria for determining who is included in that count. Currently all people living in the United States are counted - regardless of citizenship or immigration status - based on the "usual residence" standard which counts individuals where they live and sleep most of the time. "Usual residence" in the proposed rule would be redefined more restrictively by incorporating factors such as immigration status and tax records into determinations. As a result, certain noncitizens could be excluded from the census count, potentially impacting the distribution, or apportionment, of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
- The second proposed change (Part 70) would prohibit questions regarding race, ethnicity or sexual orientation from appearing on the short-form decennial census questionaire. Eliminating questions related to race and ethnicity would signifcantly reduce the availability of demographic data used to enforce civil rights laws, monitor racial and ethnic disparities, allocate public resources and inform policymaking.
An accurate count is essential to ensuring that communities receive fair representation and appropriate allocations of public resources. For example, in FY 2021, $2.85 trillion in federal funds were distributed based on collected census data.
"Civic participation cannot be fully realized without confronting the structural barriers that limit access for many. These barriers, which function to silence voices and restrict public engagement, disproportionately affect already marginalized communities and contradict both democratic ideals and the biblical call to seek justice," reads the ELCA social statement Faith and Civic Life: Seeking the Well-being of All (p. 65).
With so many consequential decisions riding on census data, the census must continue to account for populations that have been historically undercounted. This includes rural residents, young children, individuals living with disabilities, students, LGTBQIA+ individuals, people experiencing homelessness, individuals whose primary language is other than English, Indigenous communities and racial and ethnic minorities. Additionally, a census is critical for the many temproary legal residents who live, work, study and worship in our communities, and for the communities themselves, which benefit from a complete and accurate census count.
This action alert directs a comment from you to the formal register at regulations.gov through Nov. 2, 2026 (more about the process here). Customize your comment with your lived or ministry experience and values.
[Posted: 10/20/2026]
