What Proposed Census Changes Could Mean for Counties 

The U.S. Census Bureau has proposed changes to the decennial census that could impact federal funding to counties, congressional representation, local redistricting, and the accuracy of population data used across counties to plan and deliver services. Key provisions include changes to residence definitions and classifications, excluding residents based on citizenship and immigration status from the apportionment count, removing demographic questions, and increasing reliance on tax and other federal records to verify residence.  

Census data is used to distribute approximately $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding across 353 federal programs, many of which support county-administered services. Counties rely on census data to plan and deliver essential services to their residents, and inaccurate population data could create uncertainty for federal funding allocations and local planning for public services, including Medicaid (Medi-Cal), the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), foster care maintenance payments, rural economic development grants and loans, and funding for highway planning and construction. A full list of federal programs that used decennial census data to distribute funds in Fiscal Year 2021 is available here.    

If finalized, these changes would be incorporated into the Code of Federal Regulations and establish federal policy for future decennial censuses, including the upcoming 2030 Census. CSAC is concerned that the proposed rule could undermine the accuracy and reliability of population and demographic information, with potentially lasting consequences for county budgets, planning decisions, and service delivery. Read CSAC’s comment letter here. The proposed rule’s comment period ends on November 2, 2026. 

Additional information and resources on the proposed regulations are available through the National Association of Counties (NACo) here. 

For questions or concerns, contact Emma Jungwirth (ejugwirth@counties.org) and CSAC’s federal representatives, Hasan Sarsour (hs@paragonlobbying.com) and Rachel Mackey (rm@paragonlobbying.com).