Federal Data Users

Proposed new rule for 2030 Census would (according to the TPM summary) "exclude undocumented immigrants, but also foreign students, H1-B visa holders, and many others from the count"

AND

would prohibit collecting data on race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation.

Read more here:

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/read-a-new-draft-rule-for-the-census-seeks-sweeping-changes-to-how-political-power-is-allocated 

There will be an opportunity to submit public comments on this rule, should Commerce choose to proceed. So start talking about this with interested colleagues and start drafting your comments now.

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Beth Jarosz
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I'm wondering when the comment period is likely to begin if Commerce does indeed proceed with publishing a proposed rule along these lines. Any sense of that?  Thank you!

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Diana Canzoneri
Demographer
City of Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development
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Great question. OMB has up to 90* days (from 6/25/26) to make a determination on whether the proposed rule has met the standards** that would allow it to move to public comment. OMB will send that determination back to Commerce.

If it is cleared (which seems plausible but not 100% guaranteed), Commerce can immediately move to the comment stage OR could decide to hold off on posting.

If it is not, Commerce has to rework the draft rule and the process starts over again.

*Commerce can ask for a 30 day extension.

**EPA has a nice summary of what review is happening at this stage: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-executive-order-12866-regulatory-planning-and-review

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Beth Jarosz
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Original Message:
Sent: 09-02-2026 10:15 PM
From: Diana Canzoneri
Subject: Proposed rules for 2030 Census

I'm wondering when the comment period is likely to begin if Commerce does indeed proceed with publishing a proposed rule along these lines. Any sense of that?  Thank you!

------------------------------
Diana Canzoneri
Demographer
City of Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development
------------------------------

Thank you for this additional info. It's super helpful! I'll share with contacts and I hope many people in the Federal Data Forum will see the info you provided.

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Diana Canzoneri
Demographer
City of Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development
------------------------------

Original Message:
Sent: 09-03-2026 10:29 AM
From: Beth Jarosz
Subject: Proposed rules for 2030 Census

Great question. OMB has up to 90* days (from 6/25/26) to make a determination on whether the proposed rule has met the standards** that would allow it to move to public comment. OMB will send that determination back to Commerce.

If it is cleared (which seems plausible but not 100% guaranteed), Commerce can immediately move to the comment stage OR could decide to hold off on posting.

If it is not, Commerce has to rework the draft rule and the process starts over again.

*Commerce can ask for a 30 day extension.

**EPA has a nice summary of what review is happening at this stage: https://www.epa.gov/laws-regulations/summary-executive-order-12866-regulatory-planning-and-review

------------------------------
Beth Jarosz
------------------------------


Original Message:
Sent: 09-02-2026 10:15 PM
From: Diana Canzoneri
Subject: Proposed rules for 2030 Census

I'm wondering when the comment period is likely to begin if Commerce does indeed proceed with publishing a proposed rule along these lines. Any sense of that?  Thank you!

------------------------------
Diana Canzoneri
Demographer
City of Seattle Office of Planning & Community Development
------------------------------