Democrats Warn Citizenship Question Could Derail 2030 Census Test

Lawmakers say the question could scare away immigrants from participating in the practice run.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Congressional Democrats have urged the U.S. Census Bureau to drop plans to use a questionnaire with a citizenship question as part of its practice test for the 2030 census, warning it could jeopardize the once-a-decade head count and deter immigrants from participating.

Why it matters

The census determines how many congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state gets, as well as how $2.8 trillion in federal funding is distributed annually. Undercounting immigrant populations could have significant political and financial implications.

The details

The Census Bureau plans to use the American Community Survey form, which includes the citizenship question, for on-the-ground tests in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, starting next month. Democrats argue this could lead to an undercount by deterring immigrants, including legal residents, from participating due to fears of deportation.

  • The Census Bureau's practice test for the 2030 census is scheduled to begin next month.
  • The 2020 census was the first since the Trump administration unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question.

The players

U.S. Census Bureau

The federal agency responsible for conducting the decennial census.

House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform

A congressional committee that oversees the Census Bureau.

George Cook

Acting Director of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Howard Lutnick

U.S. Commerce Secretary, whose department oversees the Census Bureau.

Donald Trump

Former U.S. President who unsuccessfully tried to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census.

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What’s next

The Census Bureau and Commerce Department have not yet responded to the Democrats' letter urging them to drop the citizenship question from the 2030 census practice test.

The takeaway

The inclusion of a citizenship question in the 2030 census practice test raises concerns about potential undercounting of immigrant populations, which could have significant political and financial implications for states and communities. This issue highlights the ongoing tensions around the census and the balance between gathering comprehensive data and addressing fears within immigrant communities.