The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked, for now, the Trump administration’s plan to include a question on the 2020 census that inquires about a person’s citizenship status.
The court said the administration’s explanation for adding such a question is insufficient and sent it back to the lower courts for further consideration. The ruling marks a setback for the administration, though the issue is not yet resolved.
Still, while further lower-court litigation is possible, it would be very difficult for the administration to get the question on the census in time for the forms to be printed by the government’s own self-declared summer deadline.
The Justice Department said in a statement it was “disappointed” by the decision.
“The Department of Justice will continue to defend this administration’s lawful exercise of executive power,” DOJ spokesperson Kelly Laco said.
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