A Trump appointee has been picked to be the acting head of the U.S. Census Bureau, replacing a career economist in the interim job, at a time when the Republican president is calling for a new census that excludes people in the U.S. illegally.

George Cook, who is chief of staff for the economic affairs undersecretary at the Department of Commerce, which oversees the Census Bureau, has been performing the duties of bureau director as of this week, according to an email sent Friday to agency employees and shared with The Associated Press.

He is also performing the duties of the undersecretary for economic affairs, according to the email.

“George is eager to see the Census Bureau represent the very best of American operational and technological prowess, remain a pillar of our constitutio

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