The Trump administration has altered the scientific integrity policy of the Commerce Department, raising concerns among former Census Bureau officials and data experts. This change involved removing language that previously protected against political interference.
This revision, dated August 19, came shortly after the release of a report by the Census Bureau with claims related to non-U.S. citizen voting. These claims stem from a team reportedly connected to a think tank established by Trump administration officials.
The updated policy impacts all agencies within the Commerce Department, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The revision has sparked worries about potential political influence over the U.S. government’s largest statistical agency, which is preparing for the 2030 census. The upcoming census will help redistribute political representation and federal funding.
Concerns Over Political Influence
In January 2025, just before Trump’s second inauguration, the Commerce Department had adopted a policy promoting a “culture of scientific integrity.” This policy banned any attempts to shape or interfere with data collection or scientific activities without proper justification.
The Trump administration’s revision lacks the previous policy’s emphasis on protecting against “inappropriate influence.” This change was identified in an NPR analysis of the current policy text on the Commerce Department’s website. Neither the Commerce Department nor the Census Bureau addressed NPR’s requests for comment on the policy change.
Nancy Potok, a former deputy director at the Census Bureau, expressed concern over the changes, noting the absence of safeguards against political interference in statistical and scientific data. These safeguards were part of a bipartisan effort to ensure the production of reliable federal information.
The fact that the policy revision omits necessary protections is troubling and deserves explanation.– Nancy Potok
Implications and Repercussions
Robert Santos, appointed by Biden as Census Bureau Director, emphasized that the timing of the policy change and the release of the noncitizen voting report was notable. Santos stated that the publishing of such a partisan document indicates inappropriate influence.
In addition to the policy revision, the Trump administration has made other changes affecting the Census Bureau. A recent ban on a data privacy protection technique has delayed American Community Survey estimates. This may limit the statistics available about local and rural areas.
Further significant changes to the 2030 census are anticipated. The bureau currently faces challenges due to workforce reductions that have led to the loss of skilled personnel.
According to Beth Jarosz from the Association of Public Data Users, the revised policy outlines a new system for investigating violations, reducing the role of the department’s lawyers. Jarosz expressed concern that this could allow more room for interference.
The new rule structure provides opportunities for undue pressures on staff decisions.– Beth Jarosz
This transition highlights the weakened framework for maintaining scientific integrity within the Commerce Department’s policies.