Over the last two years, estimates for the overall U.S. population have hovered above 331 million, based off the 2020 census, with the latest estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau in its American Community Survey putting the number at 334,914,896.

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the Commerce Department to begin work on a new census that excludes immigrants in the U.S. illegally, revisiting a push from his first term that was later rejected by the courts and reversed by his successor.

The direction comes amid Trump's push to weaken the political power of those voters less likely to support him.