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Congress Controls Census Amid Controversial Counting Proposals

8/13/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that Congress, not President Trump, holds the reins of the U.S. census. He proposed counting undocumented individuals while clearly marking their status. However, experts caution that Republican plans for a mid-decade census ahead of the 2026 elections could threaten the crucial groundwork for the 2030 census.

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Story summary

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that Congress, not President Trump, holds the reins of the U.S. census. He proposed counting undocumented individuals while clearly marking their status. However, experts caution that Republican plans for a mid-decade census ahead of the 2026 elections could threaten the crucial groundwork for the 2030 census.