Delay in 2020 census could gum up finely calibrated planning
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he has asked about delaying the 2020 census over a citizenship question, but experts say any delay could gum up the U.S. Census Bureau’s finely calibrated timetable.
The printing deadline was Monday. For months, the Trump administration argued that the courts needed to decide quickly whether the citizenship question could be added to the 2020 census because of the looming deadline.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last week that the question couldn’t be added for now. Trump tweeted that he had asked lawyers if the count can be delayed until the court can reevaluate the matter.
The bureau already has signed almost 250 office leases and hired 1,500 specialists who encourage participation.
A bureau spokeswoman said early Monday that she didn’t know if any printing schedule changes had been decided.