The Trump administration has proposed sweeping changes to the rules governing the 2030 US Census, including a new definition of “usual residence” that could exclude some noncitizens from population figures used for congressional apportionment.
The proposal, published by the US Census Bureau, would establish new criteria for deciding who should be counted and where. It would also introduce significant restrictions on demographic questions, including a proposal to remove race and ethnicity questions from the decennial census questionnaire and prohibit questions about sexual orientation and gender identity.
The changes are contained in a proposed rule and are not yet final. The Census Bureau says the measures are intended to strengthen the constitutional requirement to count the “whole number of persons” in each state for apportionment.
New Rules for Residence
One of the most consequential elements of the proposal concerns the definition of a person's “usual residence”.
Traditionally, the census has generally counted people at the place where they live and sleep most of the time. The proposed regulations would introduce additional criteria based on legal documentation and government records when determining residence for census purposes.
The administration argues that the revised approach would better identify people who have an established connection to a state and prevent temporary or unlawful presence from affecting congressional representation.
Noncitizens Could Be Affected
The proposed changes could have their biggest impact on people who are not US citizens or permanent residents.
Undocumented immigrants could potentially be excluded from the population totals used for congressional apportionment. People living in the United States temporarily, including some visa holders, refugees and asylum seekers, could also be affected depending on how the final residence criteria are applied.
The distinction is politically significant because census population figures are used to determine how many seats each state receives in the US House of Representatives.
Race Data Faces Major Change
The proposal also seeks to overhaul the way demographic information is collected.
If adopted in its current form, the decennial census would no longer ask respondents to provide race or ethnicity information. That would represent a major departure from longstanding census practice.
The proposed rule argues that the core constitutional purpose of the census is population enumeration and apportionment rather than collecting information on personal characteristics such as race.
However, the proposal comes after years of Census Bureau work to improve race and ethnicity data. In 2024, the Bureau said it was preparing to implement updated federal race and ethnicity standards in the 2030 Census, including a combined question designed to provide more detailed information about how Americans identify.
Gender Questions Also Restricted
The proposed regulations would also prevent the Census Bureau from adding questions concerning sexual orientation or gender identity to the decennial questionnaire.
The administration has argued that the census should focus on core population-counting functions rather than collecting information that it considers unrelated to constitutional apportionment.
The proposal nevertheless leaves open the possibility of collecting information about immigration or legal status, potentially allowing the government to distinguish between citizens, permanent residents and other categories of residents.
Political Representation at Stake
The census plays a central role in the distribution of political power across the United States.
Population totals from the decennial census determine how the 435 seats in the House of Representatives are apportioned among the states. Those figures also affect the allocation of Electoral College votes.
The census data are also used in redistricting and in distributing federal resources. The Census Bureau says the 2030 count will help determine congressional representation and inform the allocation of federal funding for areas including schools, hospitals, roads and emergency services.
Any change that reduces the population counted in particular states could therefore have consequences extending beyond immigration policy.
Civil Rights Data Concerns
The proposed elimination of race and ethnicity questions is likely to face opposition from civil rights organisations, researchers and other data users.
Race and ethnicity information has historically been used to examine disparities and enforce federal laws covering voting rights, housing, employment and other areas.
The Census Bureau itself has previously emphasised the importance of detailed racial and ethnic data for understanding communities and supporting government decision-making. Its current planning documents say the Bureau is preparing to implement the updated 2024 federal race and ethnicity standards in the 2030 Census.
Critics are therefore likely to argue that removing such information could make it more difficult to identify discrimination and measure racial disparities.
Proposal Still Open to Debate
The latest announcement does not immediately change how Americans will be counted.
The Census Bureau has issued the measures as a proposed rule and request for public comments, meaning the administration can receive feedback before deciding whether and how to finalise the regulations.
The 2030 Census is still several years away, and the Census Bureau is conducting research, testing and operational planning before the final count. The Bureau says the 2026 Census Test and future testing will help shape the procedures ultimately used in 2030.
If adopted, however, the proposed rules could represent one of the most significant changes to the US census framework in decades, with potential consequences for immigration policy, political representation, federal funding and the availability of demographic data.
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