As the nation awaits the nomination of a new director for the U.S. Census Bureau under the incoming Trump administration, it is critical to underscore the significance of this appointment in shaping the long-term unity and integrity of our nation. The role of the Census Bureau extends beyond mere headcount; it is a potent tool that has been leveraged by leftist activists to create and enforce divisive identity politics that threaten the cohesion of the United States.
For far too long, conservatives have overlooked the importance of the census, allowing progressives to manipulate its outcomes to further their agenda. Unlike a routine governmental task, the census underpins the very fabric of how our society categorizes its people, impacting both perception and policy. The Left has cleverly utilized these classifications to foster a narrative of division, setting up a framework of various groups as either oppressors or the oppressed. This approach mirrors the divisive rhetoric of Marxist ideology, which seeks to pit group against group, thereby fracturing our society.
The introduction of racial and ethnic categories like “Hispanics” or “Asian Americans” is not an innocuous measure; it is a deliberate attempt to create distinct identities and ingrained grievances. The Left’s intention is to encourage individuals to see themselves less as Americans and more as members of a particular group, divided by the lines of government-sanctioned identities. This strategy was effectively realized in the 1977 issuance of Policy Directive No. 15, which established the so-called “Ethno-Racial Pentagon” of classifications. This categorization has only served to deepen societal rifts and complicate the American self-concept.
Now, there is a push to expand this divisive scheme with the proposal of a new MENA category—Middle-East North Africa—which threatens to further racialize religious affiliations, notably Islam, into a government-recognized race. This effort is reminiscent of past campaigns that shaped the Census Bureau into an instrument for entrenching racial and ethnic divides, rather than a tool for unification.
The task before President Trump’s nominee is clear: to dismantle the apparatus that supports these artificial divides. By rejecting calls for new categories like MENA and challenging the existing racial framework, the administration can work toward a unified national identity. This includes rescinding Policy Directive No. 15, thereby nullifying the entrenched ethno-racial classifications that have only served to isolate and alienate groups from the broader American narrative.
While the collection of racial data is often justified as a means to rectify disparities, the categories themselves are arbitrary and fail to account for the nuanced realities of American life. Factors such as family structure, educational opportunities, and personal choices have far more impact on life outcomes than the color of one’s skin or national origin.
A move away from racial categorization toward a focus on citizenship and shared values will be more reflective of the nation’s true identity. Americans overwhelmingly support the government’s move to eliminate these superficial divides in favor of policies that promote national unity and individual opportunity. It’s time for the new administration to bring about meaningful changes to the Census Bureau, ensuring that it reflects a cohesive, unified America rather than one segmented by fabricated identities. The future of the nation relies on such decisive leadership.
