United States Census Bureau
Trump's executive order instead demands data be collected via "all executive agencies and departments."
The president's comment that the question is needed for "districting" could undermine his administration's effort to add it to the 2020 census.
President Trump has urged officials to find ways to put the question on the 2020 census even though the Supreme Court blocked the move for the time being.
The justices are asked to allow a lower court to gather more information about the role a GOP redistricting expert had in adding the question to the 2020 survey.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
The Supreme Court heard arguments regarding the addition of a citizenship question on the 2020 census.
Turnout in last year's midterm elections also spiked among Hispanic and Asian voters.
The case will have significant consequences for the next decade and beyond.
Advocates warn that the question will reduce responses to the decennial survey, with serious consequences for the nation.
“We can tell them that it’s all confidential, that the census won’t share this information, but I’m not sure I would believe it if I were in that position.”
The data gathered in the decennial census has a wide variety of essential uses that have nothing to do with citizenship.