Political meddling at the Census Bureau damages the entire US statistical system

Political meddling at the Census Bureau damages the US statistical system

Two recent incidents at the Census Bureau—an unsigned brief claiming noncitizen voting in the 2020 election and a Commerce Department order banning noise infusion—signal dangerous political encroachment on the agency's scientific authority. The brief, linked to Trump-aligned groups, lacked rigor and accountability, while the noise infusion ban, issued without public comment, threatens data accuracy and granularity. These events, aligned with administration goals, erode trust in the statistical system and its ability to inform policy.