From NPR · · 1m 40s
Warren demands answers on census political ban removal
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pressing Trump officials to explain why the Census Bureau removed language protecting against political interference from its scientific integrity policy.
In brief
Sen. Elizabeth Warren is pressing Trump officials to explain why the Census Bureau removed language protecting against political interference from its scientific integrity policy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren demands Trump officials explain removing a ban on political interference from Census Bureau scientific integrity…
Census Bureau removes political interference ban
The Census Bureau's parent agency removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy. The change was dated August nineteenth and came without announcement.
Warren cites concerns about data reliability
Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, top Democrat on the Senate Banking Committee, sent letters Wednesday to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and other officials demanding explanation of the removal.
Removal followed controversial report
The policy change came a day after the Census Bureau released an unusual document by a team with ties to the America First Policy Institute. Data experts criticized the document's claims about non-U.S. citizen voting as questionable.
Other controversial statistical changes
In June, the administration banned a data privacy protection technique the Census Bureau had used for decades. This month it proposed excluding certain non-U.S. citizen residents from the census count that determines congressional representation.
Warren warns of sweeping implications
Warren wrote that proposed changes would affect economic data quality, redistricting, Federal Reserve monetary policy decisions, and civil rights enforcement. She is probing whether the Office of Management and Budget was involved.
Federal Reserve to respond by October seventh
Warren asked for detailed answers by October seventh. The Federal Reserve said it plans to respond to her letter. Commerce Department and OMB spokespeople did not immediately respond to NPR's requests for comment.
In short
Sen. Elizabeth Warren demands Trump officials explain removing a ban on political interference from Census Bureau scientific integrity policy, citing concerns about data reliability.
