The Commerce Department removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy following the Census Bureau's release of a report connected to a Trump-aligned think tank, according to NPR.
Key facts
- The Census Bureau issued a report tied to a Trump-aligned think tank, according to NPR.
- The bureau's parent agency, the Commerce Department, cut language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy, NPR reported.
- The Census Bureau operates under the Commerce Department.
- The development was reported by NPR on 31 August 2026.
The U.S. Commerce Department has removed language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy, a change that came after the Census Bureau issued a report tied to a Trump-aligned think tank, according to NPR.
The Census Bureau operates under the Commerce Department, which sets the policies governing how the agency conducts and safeguards its statistical work. Scientific integrity policies are typically designed to protect government data and research from being shaped by political considerations.
NPR reported that the language barring political interference was cut from the policy following the release of the bureau’s report. The report was tied to a think tank aligned with President Trump, according to the outlet.
The Census Bureau is responsible for collecting and publishing data that informs a wide range of government and public decisions.
The account is based on NPR’s reporting. It is not yet clear from the available source what specific language was removed, when the change took effect, or how the Commerce Department has characterised its reasoning. Any comment from the department or the Census Bureau was not detailed in the source.
Why it matters
The Census Bureau produces data used to allocate political representation and federal funding, so protections against political interference are central to public trust in its figures. Changes to those safeguards, as reported by NPR, are likely to draw attention to the independence of official government statistics.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Commerce Department change?
According to NPR, the Commerce Department cut language banning political interference from its scientific integrity policy.
What prompted the change?
NPR reported that the change followed the Census Bureau issuing a report tied to a Trump-aligned think tank.
Who oversees the Census Bureau?
The Census Bureau's parent agency is the Commerce Department, which sets its scientific integrity policy.