On February 28, the Census Bureau advised members of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, the National Advisory Committee on Racial, Ethnic and other Populations, and the 2030 Census Advisory Committee that their spring meetings had been cancelled. On March 4, members of these committees were advised that their Committees had been terminated, claiming that their purposes had been fulfilled. This decision follows the executive order issued February 19 requiring certain presidential advisors to identify “unnecessary” advisory committees within 30 days. Two other Census Bureau advisory committees that fill important roles on its economic data work were also terminated.

CHN is deeply troubled by the end of these committees, and by the likely termination of other important advisory committees throughout the federal government as a result of the Executive Order. The federal advisory committees for the Census Bureau have been an invaluable resource for the Bureau to get input from experts and the public. Through past Republican and Democratic administrations the advisory committees have been an efficient and effective way to provide advice and feedback to the Census Bureau. We have seen the Census Bureau often revise its plans in ways that would greatly improve its work as a result of these meetings. For example, former Director Santos said the agency’s decision last year to drop proposed changes to a slate of questions about disability on its American Community Survey was because scholars and advocacy groups at meetings of the advisory committees raised concerns about the way that the altered questions would greatly underestimate the official number of people in the United States who are considered disabled.

As a member of Count All Kids, CHN has observed and participated in the work of the Census advisory committees. We regularly submitted comments to these committees emphasizing the importance of improving the count of young children and other undercounted populations and sharing our perspective on their plans. We believe that in a constantly changing world, the Census Bureau, and the whole federal government, continue to need expert advice and public perspectives. Their purpose is perpetual.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) have issued statements opposing the decision to end the Census committees, as have members of Congress.

CHN will continue to seek ways to engage with the Census Bureau to help it ensure that every young child is counted, as well as every member of other communities that are historically undercounted, both in the decennial census and in its surveys. The decennial census is mandated by the Constitution and is central to our democracy. It provides the data needed for apportioning House seats and redistricting for the House, state and local legislatures and school boards. Both census and survey data are used to allocate funding for many federal and state programs. Census Bureau data is relied on by policy makers. The Census Bureau, other federal agencies, and our country need the ongoing advice of experts and the engagement of the public. Refusal to seek it will thwart the best means of making steady improvements in the exercise of our democracy.