Summary
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick stated that Congress, not the President, has the ultimate authority over the U.S. census, which is used for determining election district boundaries and federal funding. Lutnick mentioned the importance of distinguishing individuals living in the U.S. without legal status in the census count. The idea of conducting a new census before 2030, as suggested by President Trump and some Republicans, faces legal and practical challenges.
Key Facts
- Howard Lutnick is the Commerce Secretary overseeing the Census Bureau.
- Lutnick confirmed that Congress has the final say over the national census.
- President Trump suggested a new census excluding people without legal status.
- Lutnick stated that people in the country without legal status should be counted differently.
- A new census before 2030 is legally and practically difficult, as preparing a census takes more than a decade.
- The 14th Amendment mandates counting everyone for the census, affecting House seats and Electoral College votes.
- Lutnick emphasized maintaining accuracy with the constitutional requirement to count every person.
- Some Republicans want to use census data to redraw voting districts before the 2026 election.
