Experts independently resurrect Census Bureau advisory committee axed by Trump administration

"A U.S. Census Bureau advisory committee made up of scientific experts that was axed by the Trump administration earlier this year is resurrecting itself and meeting Thursday with no official blessing or formal ties to the statistical agency. The reconstitution of the Census Scientific Advisory Committee, rechristened with an Independent in front of its name, is a defiant gesture by the research community against the Trump administration's elimination last winter of three advisory committees made up of outside experts from private industry and academia."

"Unlike in past meetings, no Census Bureau staffers will be involved directly or indirectly during Thursday's conference. Will our scientific advice still find an ear at the Census Bureau? I do not know, said University of North Carolina sociologist Barbara Entwisle, who chairs the committee. However, it is a certainty that our recommendations will have no effect at all if we do not provide them."

An advisory committee of scientific experts formerly tied to the Census Bureau reconstituted itself as the Independent Census Scientific Advisory Committee and is meeting without official blessing or formal ties to the agency. No Census Bureau staffers will participate directly or indirectly in the meeting. Committee leaders state uncertainty about whether their advice will be heard but emphasize the necessity of offering recommendations. The reformation responds to the Trump administration's elimination of three advisory committees and broader changes perceived as eroding federal statistical systems, including removal of datasets and departures of data personnel. Recent actions include firing a labor statistics chief and contract nonrenewals for census-related web services.

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