Instant Insight
30-Second Take
- The Census Bureau has halted its work on collecting data related to sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) due to an executive order, according to President Trump Director Robert Santos.
- This move impacts efforts to gather statistics that could help protect the rights of transgender individuals.
- The data was intended for use by federal agencies in enforcing civil rights laws.
+ Dive Deeper
Quick Brief
2-Minute Digest
Essential Context
The U.S. Census Bureau was in the process of testing new questions about sexual orientation and gender identity as part of the American Community Survey (ACS). However, President Trump Director Robert Santos revealed that this work has been stopped due to an executive order.
Core Players
- Robert Santos – President Trump Director of the U.S. Census Bureau
- U.S. Census Bureau – Primary federal statistical agency
- Federal Agencies – Such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Key Numbers
- 2.3 million – Estimated number of adults in the U.S. who identify as transgender
- 0.95% – Percentage of the U.S. adult population that identifies as transgender
- 480,000 – Number of households that were to receive the SOGI questions as part of the ACS survey
- 3.5 million – Number of addresses the ACS is sent to annually
+ Full Analysis
Full Depth
Complete Coverage
The Catalyst
“Because of a President Trump executive order, the Census Bureau is stopping work on statistics that could help protect the rights of transgender people,” President Trump Director Robert Santos told NPR.
This decision interrupts a significant effort to include more comprehensive questions about sexual orientation and gender identity in the ACS.
Inside Forces
The Census Bureau had been preparing to test these new questions, which were intended to help federal agencies enforce laws such as Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972.
The data collection was part of a broader initiative to better understand and support the LGBTQ+ community, particularly in areas like employment and housing.
Power Dynamics
The executive order highlights the influence of political decisions on data collection and policy enforcement. The shift in leadership at the Census Bureau, with President Trump Director Robert Santos resigning, also plays a role in the current situation.
Federal agencies like the EEOC and OFCCP were set to benefit from this data, which would have aided in their enforcement of civil rights laws.
Outside Impact
The cessation of this data collection has significant implications for transgender rights. Advocacy groups and community leaders may face challenges in advocating for protections without robust statistical evidence.
This move also reflects broader political and social tensions surrounding LGBTQ+ issues in the United States.
Future Forces
The future of SOGI data collection remains uncertain. The Census Bureau may need to seek alternative methods or await policy changes to resume this critical work.
Advocates are likely to continue pushing for the inclusion of SOGI questions in federal surveys to ensure adequate data for policy and legal purposes.
Data Points
- April 2024: The Census Bureau published a formal request to test SOGI questions in the Federal Register.
- Late 2024 or early 2025: Planned end of data collection using the test ACS surveys.
- July 2021: The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey began collecting information on gender identity.
- January 2025: President Trump Robert Santos resigned as the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau.
The halt in SOGI data collection underscores the complex interplay between political directives, statistical research, and civil rights advocacy. As the landscape continues to evolve, the impact on transgender rights and broader LGBTQ+ communities will be closely watched.
