For Immediate Release:
Nov. 2, 2026
Contact: media@iwpr.org
IWPR Statement on Attempt to Undermine Integrity of U.S. Census and Endanger Women’s Health and Economic Security
WASHINGTON — Today, Dr. Jamila K. Taylor, the president and CEO of the Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration’s proposed rule to exclude non-citizens and to eliminate key demographic data collection from the decennial census:
“The proposed rule will have a devastating effect on the health and financial security of women and families across the country. For centuries and as enshrined in the Constitution, the census has counted all residents, regardless of citizenship status. The administration’s efforts to politicize the count and intentionally cease demographic data collection will lead to untold numbers of people — particularly women of color — losing access to health care, food assistance, and child care.
“This is about far more than the loss of crucial data. It’s a deliberate attempt to undermine the accuracy and integrity of the census, erase communities, and deny the reality of who we are as a nation. The inevitable undercount will result in a loss of funding for vital programs as well as damage to both public research and our entire economy. The administration must withdraw this harmful and misguided rule.”
Also today, IWPR submitted a public comment in opposition to the proposed rule, outlining the wide-ranging negative consequences of failing to count all residents. Essential federal programs that disproportionately help women and people of color — including Head Start, Medicaid, and postpartum care supports — rely on the decennial census count to determine funding allocations for each state, as do several public and private data sources. In addition, effective enforcement of employee civil rights relies on disaggregated demographic data sets, making this proposed rule especially concerning in light of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s proposed elimination of employer demographic data reports.
Read IWPR’s full comments on the proposed census rule here.
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The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR) is the nation’s leading think tank working to win economic equity for all women. Through evidence-based research, policy solutions, and advocacy, IWPR is advancing the power and well-being of women across the US. Learn more at IWPR.org.