The Office of Management and Budget has announced changes to how the federal government collects data on people’s race and ethnicity, including for the US census. The new standards will include a single question for race and ethnicity, with a new Middle Eastern and North African category as an option. The question will now include seven broad categories: White, Hispanic or Latino, Black or African American, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, Middle Eastern or North African, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.
The revisions to the standards are the result of years-long efforts and are aimed at creating more accurate federal data on race and ethnicity. Federal agencies will have 18 months to submit an action plan to the OMB and are expected to implement the new standards within five years. The US Census Bureau has commended the new rule and will begin reviewing and developing plans to implement the changes in censuses and surveys. The nonprofit Arab American Institute has advocated for the Middle Eastern and North African category, but some concerns remain regarding the exclusion of Black Arabs and Armenian Americans.
The combined race and ethnicity question is expected to improve data collection about Latinos, according to Arturo Vargas of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. He noted that many Latinos did not see themselves reflected in the previous separate question on race. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus have praised the changes as a historic milestone for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. They emphasized the importance of recognizing disparities among different racial and ethnic groups to make government programs more responsive and effective.
The Office of Management and Budget stated that the new standards will enhance the ability to compare information and data across federal agencies and to understand how federal programs serve a diverse America. This is the first time in nearly three decades that the existing standards for collecting data on race and ethnicity have been changed. Federal agencies are expected to implement the new standards within five years, following an 18-month period for submitting action plans to the OMB. The U.S. Census Bureau has commended the scientific integrity and collaboration with federal statistical agencies and will work on implementing the changes in censuses and surveys.
The nonprofit Arab American Institute sees the revised standards as a step towards making Arab Americans more visible in federal data, but they expressed concerns about the exclusion of certain groups within the Middle Eastern and North African category. AAI Executive Director Maya Berry stated that while the new checkbox may not accurately represent the Arab American community, they will continue to push for accurate data. The changes have also been welcomed by the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, who see the combined race and ethnicity question as an improvement for data collection about Latinos. Further work is needed to address subgroups within the Latino community.
The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus described the changes as a significant breakthrough for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. They highlighted the importance of recognizing disparities among different racial and ethnic groups to ensure that government programs and services are responsive and effective. The OMB announcement of the new standards has been praised as a historic milestone that will lead to more accurate federal race and ethnicity statistics. The changes aim to better reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of the U.S. population and improve data collection across federal agencies.
