Moreover, he explained, “The reasoned explanation requirement of administrative law, after all, is meant to ensure that agencies offer genuine justifications for important decisions, reasons that can be scrutinized by courts and the interested public.”
“Accepting contrived reasons would defeat the purpose of the enterprise. In these unusual circumstances, the District Court was warranted in remanding to the agency, and we affirm that disposition.”
“We do not hold that the agency decision here was substantively invalid. But agencies must pursue their goals reasonably. Reasoned decisionmaking under the Administrative Procedure Act calls for an explanation for agency action. What was provided here was more of a distraction.”
Trump’s reaction
In a tweet, President Donald Trump commented that it’s “totally ridiculous” that the federal government cannot ask the citizenship of people in the 2020 Census. He added that he asked the lawyers if it is possible to “delay the Census no matter how long” until his administration provides additional information to the Supreme Court.
…..United States Supreme Court is given additional information from which it can make a final and decisive decision on this very critical matter. Can anyone really believe that as a great Country, we are not able the ask whether or not someone is a Citizen. Only in America!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 27, 2019
