The U.S. Census Bureau, under the direction of the Trump administration, has made a proposal to remove questions regarding gender identity from a vital monthly survey that gathers timely data on American life.
A couple of weeks back, the Census Bureau approached the Office of Management and Budget, seeking approval to eliminate items about gender identity from the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey. This request, made on February 14, aligns with President Donald Trump’s executive order, which intends to deny federal funding to programs that “promote gender ideology.”
On the inauguration of Trump’s second term in January, a directive was issued for the federal government to define sex strictly as male or female for official documentation, such as passports, and policies like federal prison placement. This stance conflicts with the position held by the American Medical Association and other leading health organizations, which assert that scientific research supports a spectrum view of sex and gender rather than a binary one.
Trump has introduced several executive orders targeting transgender and nonbinary populations since reinstating his role in office. These orders have prompted legal challenges from several civil rights organizations. Recently, a federal judge in Seattle obstructed the majority of Trump’s initiative to withdraw federal funding from entities that offer gender-affirming care to transgender youth, awaiting a conclusive ruling on the matter.
The Census Bureau had been planning to introduce questions about sexual and gender identity in the 2027 American Community Survey, a broad-reaching study of American life. Testing for questions regarding sexual orientation and gender identity commenced in August, using trial surveys distributed to several hundred thousand homes. Questions were raised about whether these gender identity queries would also be removed from the American Community Survey, but the Census Bureau had not responded to an email inquiry on the subject as of Monday.
Moreover, the Census Bureau has called off the scheduled spring meeting of an advisory committee responsible for the 2030 census planning, which is critical for determining political representation and federal expenditure for the coming decade. No reasons were provided for the cancellation. When questioned via email, the Census Bureau redirected the inquiry to the Department of Commerce, which oversees its operations.
“We will provide an update as more information becomes available,” stated the Census Bureau in a communication sent to committee members last Friday.
