Trump official acknowledges: Congress has final say on census
Trump official acknowledges: Congress has final say on census  
Podcast: Trump's Terms
Published On: Wed Aug 13 2025
Description: Less than a week after President Trump said he has ordered a "new" census, the cabinet official who oversees the Census Bureau acknowledged Tuesday that Congress, not the president, has final say over the national head count that's used to reshape election maps and guide federal funding, NPR has exclusively learned. NPR's Hansi Lo Wang reports. Support NPR and hear every episode of Trump's Terms sponsor-free with NPR+. Sign up at plus.npr.org.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy