The U.S. Census Bureau just proposed to eliminate race and ethnicity questions from the 2030 Census, a move vigorously opposed by the Insights Association for its detrimental impact on the insights industry and the broader business world. The proposal also includes changes to rules for counting immigrants and others.
As IA told the Commerce Secretary on August 25, 2026, if enacted, the proposal would mark the first time since 1790 that the decennial count has not captured race and ethnicity data, a change that would "hobble" the insights industry's work and bring "significant costs and huge risk" for the many other sectors that depend on the industry’s output for informed decision-making.
The September 10, 2026 proposed rule is divided in half:
- Part 1 changes the residence rules to "include lawful permanent residents... while excluding... illegal aliens and aliens whose legal status is less durable and indefinite in length than lawful permanent resident status" from the decennial enumeration.
- Part 2 eliminates race and ethnicity questions (“15 CFR Part 70 Census, Decennial census, Demographic data, Race and ethnicity, Data collection, Confidentiality, Privacy, Administrative practice and procedure.”)
Public comments in response are due by October 13.
IA has a new 1-page position paper on the proposed rule.
We will soon have a campaign in our Action Center for insights professionals to quickly and easily send comments on the proposal.
IA has also been quoted in media coverage about the proposal:
About the Author
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers.
Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS.
He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.