The Biden administration is proposing several changes in the way race and ethnicity are reported in the census and government surveys. The first is to collect race and ethnicity with a single question, putting “Hispanic or Latino” along with the other races, rather than the separate two question format in place currently. Supporters claim that respondents may not understand the distinction between race and ethnicity, therefore many Latinos may not know what race to select after indicating their Hispanic/Latino ethnicity.
The proposal also includes adding a category for “Middle Eastern and North African” (MENA), separate from the “White” category. This would be a major achievement for MENA groups who have pushed for their own checkbox for a long time.
Lastly, the proposal updates terminology, definitions, and question wording and removes outdated language from the current racial and ethnic data policy. These recommendations seek to better reflect the country’s diversity and changing demographics. The OMB is expected to make a final decision on the proposals by summer 2024.
