Census Bureau proposes to bar race, ethnicity and sexual-orientation questions from the decennial census, allowing "biological sex"
Proposed ruleUSBC
- Date
- Actor
- Census Bureau, Department of Commerce
- Agency
- Census Bureau (USBC)
- Type
- Proposed rule
Summary
A notice of proposed rulemaking (FR Doc. 2026-18481, Sept. 10, 2026) would add regulations limiting the demographic questions on the decennial census questionnaire and other enumeration questionnaires: no question about race, ethnicity or sexual orientation would be allowed, while questions on "biological sex," date of birth and household relationships would remain. A gender-identity question is not among those allowed. It would not apply to the American Community Survey.
Status
Proposed; public comment open. Not final.
As recorded in the data of . Check the sources for anything newer.
Sources
- federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/10/2026-18481/decennial-census-of-the-pop…(opens another site)
Cite this action
Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions, 91 Fed. Reg. 57,524 (proposed Sept. 10, 2026) (to be codified at 15 C.F.R. pts. 60, 70).
Short form: 91 Fed. Reg. at 57,524.