Wyden Presses Trump Administration over Political Interference in Commerce, Census Data

October 14, 2026 Wyden Presses Trump Administration over Political Interference in Commerce, Census Data Wyden raises concerns over potential for political interference in 2030 Census, nonpartisan data collection Washington, D.C. – Senator Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today demanded answers from the Trump administration following reports that the Commerce Department has stripped away protections against political influence in its Scientific Integrity Policy. “ The Department’s recent decision in August 2026 to quietly strip explicit prohibitions against political interference from its Scientific Integrity Policy is yet another attempt by the Trump administration to undermine scientific facts and data that do not align with its own priorities ,” Wyden wrote to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “ Doing away with these safeguards could also result in biased reports that violate federal law under the Information Quality Act, which requires agencies to maintain the quality, objectivity, and integrity of the information they share with the public .” The unannounced policy shift comes shortly after the U.S. Census Bureau published an unauthored, highly irregular report on noncitizen voting—a document data and elections experts widely criticized for its flawed methodology and complete lack of peer review. An NPR investigation revealed that the report was spearheaded by the America First Policy Institute, a conservative group with deep ties to Donald Trump. Wyden stressed that doing away with these guardrails is an open invitation for political interference in nonpartisan data relied on by communities and small businesses for everything from census counts to inflation metrics and hurricane forecasts. Wyden also voiced concerns over the implication of political influence by the Trump administration in the upcoming 2030 Census in an effort to suppress political participation of Trump’s political opponents and reallocate federal funding for vulnerable communities. The full letter is here. Print Email Tweet Previous Article