Trump Administration Scales Back 2030 Census Testing Sites

Concerns raised that the reduced number of test locations could undermine efforts to accurately count hard-to-reach communities.

Feb. 2, 2026 at 9:31pm

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The Trump administration is eliminating four out of the six locations that had been slated for a practice test to try out new methods for the 2030 census, raising concerns that the U.S. Census Bureau might not learn enough about communities that have been traditionally difficult to count.

Why it matters

The 2030 census test is crucial for the Census Bureau to evaluate new methods and improve its ability to accurately count populations that were undercounted in the 2020 census, such as rural areas, tribal lands, and communities with limited internet access. Limiting the test to just two metro areas in the South could undermine these efforts.

The details

The test, which started on Monday, will now only be conducted in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. Four other sites — Colorado Springs, Colorado, tribal lands in Arizona, western North Carolina and western Texas — were originally included but have been eliminated. The Census Bureau did not provide a reason for the reduced number of test locations.

  • The 2030 census test began on Monday, February 3, 2026.
  • The Commerce Department's notice about the reduced test sites will be formally published on Tuesday, February 4, 2026.

The players

U.S. Census Bureau

The federal agency responsible for conducting the decennial census, which determines congressional representation and guides the distribution of federal funding.

Mark Mather

An associate vice president at the Population Reference Bureau, a nonpartisan research group, who expressed concerns about the reduced test sites.

Commerce Department

The federal department that oversees the Census Bureau.

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What they’re saying

“The Census Bureau would be essentially flying blind into communities that need testing most — tribal lands, rural areas with limited connectivity and places with historically low response rates. You can't fix what you don't test.”

— Mark Mather, Associate Vice President, Population Reference Bureau

What’s next

The Census Bureau has stated it remains committed to conducting the most accurate 2030 census, but the reduced test sites could undermine those efforts. It remains to be seen how the agency will adapt its plans to ensure it can effectively reach and count hard-to-reach communities.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's decision to scale back the 2030 census testing locations raises concerns that the Census Bureau may not have enough information to improve its methods for counting traditionally undercounted populations, which could jeopardize the accuracy of the next decennial census and the fair distribution of congressional representation and federal funding.