Scholars resurrect Census Scientific Advisory Committee independently after Trump administration axed it harshly

Scholars resurrect Census Scientific Advisory Committee independently after Trump administration axed it harshly

Last Updated Sep - 18 - 2025, 06:14 PM | Source : Fela News

Demographers and academics reconstitute disbanded advisory body facing institutional barriers, aiming to uphold data integrity.

A group of independent experts including demographers, statisticians and academic researchers has revived the Census Scientific Advisory Committee that was earlier disbanded by the Trump administration. The revived body now calls itself the Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee. 

Earlier this year, the Trump administration eliminated three external advisory committees that helped guide the U.S. Census Bureau on demographic inclusivity, diversity, health statistics and other key issues. Critics had warned that this removal would reduce oversight and transparency.

The newly formed independent group meets without any formal ties to the Census Bureau, meaning no government staff participates. This setup limits their official influence, but members say it is still necessary so their scientific advice can be available to public and possibly considered informally.

Among concerns raised previously were removals of categories related to gender, health, climate change in census outputs, staffing cuts, and directives to exclude undocumented immigrants from certain counts. The restored committee aims to monitor these changes and recommend corrections.

While knowing their advice may not be adopted immediately, these experts hope their independent voice can still shape policy, bring attention to statistical risks, and help restore trust in census work. They stress that good data matters for planning, fairness, and representation especially for marginalized groups.

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