The U.S. Census Bureau is ending all counting efforts for the 2020 census on Sept. 30, a month sooner than previously announced, the bureau's director confirmed Monday in a statement. That includes critical door-knocking efforts and collecting responses online, over the phone and by mail. Cutting the #2020Census count short by a month is a mistake. We need to make every effort to count every person. Our Constitution requires it.

With roughly 4 out of 10 households nationwide yet to be counted, and already delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, the bureau now has less than two months left to try to reach people of color, immigrants, renters, rural residents and other members of historically undercounted groups who are not likely to fill out a census form on their own.

Civil rights groups, states, cities and individuals have filed at least a half-dozen lawsuits challenging the memorandum as unconstitutional and an attempt to limit the power of Latinos and immigrants of color.

506 philanthropic leaders, representing nearly every state across the country, issued a letter to the US Department of Commerce with a clear message: Don’t cut the census short. The press release and the letter sent to the Secretary of Commerce with the list of signatories are linked below.

Letter - Philanthropic Leaders on Census Being Cut Short 8-5-20

Press Release - Philanthropic Leaders in Unprecedented Letter_ Don’t Cut the Census Short

Letter (updated) - Philanthropic Leaders on Census Being Cut Short 8-7-20