With Congress at an impasse over Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations and only days remaining until the current fiscal year ends on September 30, the prospect of a Federal government shutdown seems increasingly likely and Census stakeholders are asking what it could mean for the Census Bureau and its programs.
During past government shutdowns, impacts included thousands of furloughed Census Bureau employees, suspended surveys, and delayed data releases. Given its constant presence in the field, the American Community Survey (ACS) experiences significant disruptions when Federal shutdowns occur. During shutdowns in 2013 and 2019, the Bureau did not conduct ACS non-response follow up operations. As a result, ACS response rates dropped by 7 and 4 percentages points, respectively, raising concerns about the quality and utility of these essential socioeconomic and demographic data.
In a September 27, 2023 memorandum, the Department of Commerce outlined its operations if a “lapse in Congressional appropriations” occurs. According to the document, the Census Bureau anticipates “that it will have sufficient funding from other than current year appropriations to continue to release data products from the 2020 Census.” Activities that the Bureau will not sustain during a shutdown “include the Economic Census, the production of Economic Indicators, the American Community Survey, and other activities funded from lapsed appropriations and reimbursable activities to the extent not funded.”
If a shutdown occurs and lasts longer than anticipated, the Census Bureau may revise its plans. The Census Project will monitor and report on any news regarding the effects of a government shutdown on the Census Bureau, including changes to the agency’s 2023 contingency plan.
Additional Shutdown Resources
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