Florida university students and retirees are joining forces to fight back against a Republican challenge to the 2020 census results. The Alliance for Retired Americans, along with two University of Central Florida students, is seeking permission to intervene in a federal lawsuit filed by young Republican groups.
The Trump administration's response to the census has been underwhelming, leading to concerns that they may not vigorously defend the case against the challenge. In their motion to intervene, the students and advocacy group claim that the administration and the Republican groups could reach a settlement that would alter the 2020 census numbers, potentially undercounting people in nursing homes and college dorms.
The stakes are high, as the 2020 census results determine the number of congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state receives, as well as guiding $2.8 trillion in annual federal spending. The Republican-led redistricting efforts could be influenced by revised census numbers, which would be a major victory for the GOP.
The Trump administration's push to rewrite the 2020 census has been contentious, with President Donald Trump urging the Commerce Department to start work on a new census that excludes immigrants who are in the United States illegally. However, federal courts have consistently supported the interpretation that anyone residing in the U.S., regardless of legal status, should be counted.
Census and redistricting experts have warned that the Republican administration may not defend the 2020 count vigorously, citing concerns about the potential for a settlement that would alter the numbers to benefit the GOP. "The Commerce Department might just throw up their hands and say, 'We agree with the plaintiffs,'" said Jeffrey Wice, a New York Law School professor.
The lawsuit challenges two methods used during the 2020 census: differential privacy and imputation for group quarters. The methods aim to provide statistically valid information while maintaining data privacy, but have been targeted by the Republican groups as flawed. The students and advocacy group are seeking to protect the integrity of the 2020 census results and ensure that the voice of all Americans is heard in the redistricting process.
In a closely watched case, three federal judges will hear arguments on the challenge. The stakes are high, with the outcome potentially affecting the balance of power in Congress and the distribution of federal funding for years to come.
The Trump administration's response to the census has been underwhelming, leading to concerns that they may not vigorously defend the case against the challenge. In their motion to intervene, the students and advocacy group claim that the administration and the Republican groups could reach a settlement that would alter the 2020 census numbers, potentially undercounting people in nursing homes and college dorms.
The stakes are high, as the 2020 census results determine the number of congressional seats and Electoral College votes each state receives, as well as guiding $2.8 trillion in annual federal spending. The Republican-led redistricting efforts could be influenced by revised census numbers, which would be a major victory for the GOP.
The Trump administration's push to rewrite the 2020 census has been contentious, with President Donald Trump urging the Commerce Department to start work on a new census that excludes immigrants who are in the United States illegally. However, federal courts have consistently supported the interpretation that anyone residing in the U.S., regardless of legal status, should be counted.
Census and redistricting experts have warned that the Republican administration may not defend the 2020 count vigorously, citing concerns about the potential for a settlement that would alter the numbers to benefit the GOP. "The Commerce Department might just throw up their hands and say, 'We agree with the plaintiffs,'" said Jeffrey Wice, a New York Law School professor.
The lawsuit challenges two methods used during the 2020 census: differential privacy and imputation for group quarters. The methods aim to provide statistically valid information while maintaining data privacy, but have been targeted by the Republican groups as flawed. The students and advocacy group are seeking to protect the integrity of the 2020 census results and ensure that the voice of all Americans is heard in the redistricting process.
In a closely watched case, three federal judges will hear arguments on the challenge. The stakes are high, with the outcome potentially affecting the balance of power in Congress and the distribution of federal funding for years to come.
. They're trying to sneak in those revised numbers that undercount people in nursing homes and college dorms, which would be straight-up sketchy 
. I mean, who wants to gerrymander voting districts based on flawed data? Not me 
. The Alliance for Retired Americans and these UCF students are fighting for the integrity of the census results, and I'm all about it 
. Can't let those redistricting efforts go down without a fight 
.
I'm not sure why anyone's making such a big deal about this census thing... Like, what's the point of getting all worked up over a bunch of numbers? 
It's just gonna be some politicians trying to get ahead in the next election. And now these Florida students and retirees are teaming up with the Alliance for Retired Americans to fight it out? 
It seems like a pretty unlikely scenario to me. And what about all the experts saying the Trump admin is just not defending the 2020 count that vigorously? Like, isn't that just part of how politics works? 
I'm not seeing why everyone's so riled up about this... Can we just get back to something more interesting than census drama? 
but what if they fail? 
that would be wild. i'm not surprised though, trump's administration has always been a bit shady when it comes to this stuff. and now these students and retirees are stepping up to fight for fair representation 
it's about time someone spoke up against all the backroom deals. the whole thing is just so complicated, but in simple terms, if they change the numbers it could affect how many seats each state gets and like a lot of other stuff that affects our country. it's not just about politics though, it's about making sure everyone's voice is heard 
. I mean, think about it - if those Republican groups can get those numbers altered, it could mean less people in certain states and more power for them 
. We need to make sure everyone's voice is heard in this process, especially the ones who might be harder to count... like those nursing home folks 
and college students 
. It's not over yet - let's keep an eye on it!
I'm lowkey worried that it's gonna get watered down because of those Republican groups trying to alter numbers 
It's like they're trying to silence voices from people who are already marginalized, you know? The students and retirees fighting back against this is a huge move 
They need to protect the integrity of our census results so we can get an accurate count of everyone in this country 
I get that they might not want certain groups counted, but come on - it's still the census!