Census stakeholders congratulate Dr. Steven Dillingham for his confirmation as Census Bureau Director by voice vote in the Senate on January 2, 2019. We look forward to working with Dr. Dillingham to ensure that the 2020 Census is conducted accurately and inclusively and to protect the integrity of the American Community Survey (ACS).
Unfortunately, Director Dillingham arrives to a partially shut-down Census Bureau. Congress and the President have yet to agree upon Fiscal Year 2019 appropriations for multiple agencies, including the Census Bureau (which is funded as part of the Commerce, Justice, Science appropriations bill).
Fortunately, 2020 Census preparations and certain surveys paid for by other agencies are still underway, as we requested last year, because of carryover funding from the prior fiscal year. The Bureau estimates that such activities can continue for 6-8 weeks under the remaining funds.
Meanwhile, the ACS and other Bureau activities are shut down and many employees have been furloughed, including at the Jeffersonville, Indiana office.
The Census Project 