Upcoming Tribal Consultation and Comment Opportunity on Changes to the 2030 Census

The U.S. Census Bureau has issued a proposed rule that would make significant changes to the 2030 Census, including the proposed removal of race and ethnicity questions. If finalized, these changes could affect how American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people are counted and represented in federal data, with potential implications for federal funding, program planning, research, and policy development.

The Census Bureau will hold a virtual Tribal Consultation on:

Date: October 2, 2026
Time: 3:00-5 p.m. ET
Format: Virtual Tribal Consultation
Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Please note that speaking opportunities during the consultation are limited to Tribal leaders. UIOs and other Tribal-serving organizations may wish to monitor the consultation and coordinate with Tribal partners on issues of concern.

The most significant concern for Indian Country is the proposed removal of race and ethnicity questions, which could eliminate critical data on AI/AN populations and affect the data used to inform federal funding decisions, health programs, housing, transportation, education, and other services.

Comment Deadlines

Public comments: October 13, 2026
Tribal Nations and Tribal-serving organizations: November 2, 2026

NCUIH will continue to monitor developments and share additional resources and updates as they become available.