Biden administration enforces alterations to federal surveys for detailed data on racial and ethnic makeup, introducing a new Middle Eastern and North African category. Critics apprehensive about further dividing nation along racial and ethnic lines. Office of Management and Budget states changes are required for survey accuracy and to better measure the impact of federal programs. Revision inspired by 2020 census insights on increasing diversity. Advocates argue it would promote fairness; Arab Americans push for the new classification to address civil rights violations. Contentious proposal had previously met resistance in 2016.