The U.S. Census Bureau, under the directives of the Trump administration, has moved to seek approval for removing questions about gender identity from a monthly survey that provides real-time insights into American life.
Two weeks prior, the Census Bureau had requested permission from the Office of Management and Budget to eliminate gender identity questions from the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey. This request aligns with President Donald Trump’s directive, which aims to withdraw federal funding from programs promoting “gender ideology.”
Initiated on the first day of Trump’s second term in January, this order mandates that the federal government define sex strictly as male or female, with these distinctions reflected on official documents such as passports and implemented in policies like federal prison assignments. This stance contrasts with the position of the American Medical Association and other mainstream medical organizations, which argue, based on extensive scientific research, that sex and gender are more accurately viewed as a spectrum rather than a binary distinction.
Since resuming office, Trump has issued a series of executive orders directly affecting transgender and nonbinary individuals. These actions have faced legal challenges from numerous civil rights organizations. A significant development occurred when a federal judge in Seattle halted Trump’s plan to cut federal funding to institutions offering gender-affirming care for transgender youth, pending a final judgment.
The Census Bureau previously intended to incorporate questions regarding sexual and gender identity in the 2027 American Community Survey, known for its comprehensive examination of American life. Trial questionnaires designed to evaluate these questions were distributed to several hundred thousand households in August. Despite inquiries, the Census Bureau did not comment on whether the gender identity questions from the American Community Survey would also be eliminated.
In a separate move, the Census Bureau announced the termination of at least two external advisory committees set up for expert guidance. The abolished groups include the 2030 Census Advisory Committee and the Census Scientific Advisory Committee.