Appropriations Update
Congress is preparing for Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 appropriations, even though the President’s budget has not yet been submitted to Congress, and stakeholders have a role to play. To inform their individual funding priorities and interests, members of Congress open web-based portals on their home pages to solicit input from stakeholders and constituents. If your organization engages with federal policymakers and prioritizes funding for the U.S. Census Bureau, it is important to take advantage of this opportunity to encourage full support for the Census Bureau in Fiscal Year 2027. The portals are not standardized, and the level of requested information varies. However, at a minimum, most portals ask for a summary of the request and how the program impacts individuals in a member’s district or state (in 200 words or less).
The Census Project posted information for interested stakeholders choosing to submit requests in support of funding the U.S. Census Bureau in FY 2027, including a funding recommendation of $2.1 billion.
Full details of The Census Project’s FY 2027 recommendation will be shared soon.
Policy Update
2026 Census Test: The Census Project Warns It Feels Like Census Groundhog Day
After cancelling essential Field Tests in the run up to the 2020 Decennial Census, the U.S. Commerce Department announced changes that potentially put preparations for the 2030 Census on similar path: a major cut in the number of sites in the 2026 Census Test tests sites, from six to two; elimination of previously announced language tests; and introduction of a controversial plan to assess the use of U.S. Postal Service staff to replace temporary Census workers.
Cancellation of the 2020 tests were part of the conditions that lead to quality issues in the 2020 Census results. The 2026 test was officially touted to respond to 2020 lessons-learned and to help the Census Bureau improve the accuracy of the country’s upcoming once-a-decade head count. A mix of communities in six states as well as a national sample of households were announced by the Bureau as part of the original testing strategy.
Stakeholders are expected to ask hard questions about the need to scale back the testing plan so dramatically, what is behind the new approach, and insist upon greater transparency about the changes. Among the most serious concerns is the dramatic scaling back of tests in Tribal lands and rural areas, the elimination of language testing on the 2030 questionnaire, and how the new arrangement with the U.S. Postal Service will work and improve data quality and non-response issues, especially in rural areas.
The Census Project discussed these issues in a recent appearance on the Federal News Network.
The Census Project also co-sponsored and presented on a “Rapid Response” web briefing regarding the 2026 Census Test.
As previously reported, the Census Bureau is accepting public comments on the proposed changes to the 2026 Test through March 5.
2026 Census Test: Stakeholder letters seeking sign-on in response
Two census stakeholder organizations are currently soliciting signatures on letters expressing concern about how these changes could ultimately impact the conduct of the 2030 Census and the quality of decennial census data. Both letters express concern about proposed changes to the Test, including:
- Use of the American Community Survey (ACS) questionnaire rather than the decennial census form.
- Scaling back from six to two proposed field test sites and elimination of the national sample and Group Quarters components of the test.
- Testing the use of U.S. Postal Service employees to conduct in-field enumeration.
- Internet self-response (ISR) available in English only, and elimination of testing of other self-response modes.
- Elimination of community partnership engagement and testing of Mobile Questionnaire Assistance (MQA) centers and phone-based Census Questionnaire Assistance (CQA).
How to sign on and details of the letters led by the Population Association of America (due March 2) and Leadership Conference in Civil and Human Rights (due March 4) are in The Census Project blog.
Census Bureau Notices Updates to More Rules
The Census Bureau announced two more rules changes via notices in the Federal Register:
- The Bureau amended to its rules for furnishing personal census data from historical population records, with changes taking effect January 23, 2026. The Bureau said the amendments removed “two unnecessary sections that merely restate underlying statutory language.” These rules (15 CFR part 80) “set forth requirements, restrictions, and procedures for obtaining personal information from historical population records maintained by the Bureau. Such regulations specify who is eligible to request personal information, outline the application process, and identify the conditions under which data may be released.” Full details of the rule change are in The Census Project blog.
- The Bureau also amended the rules governing the program for challenging the Bureau’s annual population estimates (Population Estimates Challenge Program) on January 23. The Population Estimates Challenge Program aims “to ensure the accuracy of the Bureau’s annual population estimates by providing governmental units a formal process for requesting a review of, submitting additional data for, and identifying potential errors in the Bureau’s estimates.” Per the Federal Register Notice, the amendments “will improve and streamline the regulations by clarifying that part 90 pertains to requests to challenge the Bureau’s annual population estimates, properly introducing an acronym used throughout part 90, eliminating inconsequential language, and amending or removing provisions that impose undue restrictions or requirements on potential challengers. The intended effect is to create a more efficient, clear, and accessible process for governmental units to request a challenge to the Bureau’s population estimates, thereby promoting accuracy and accountability.” Full details of the rule change are in The Census Project blog.
Commerce Secretary’s Testimony at Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on 2026 Census Test, Poverty Measurement
On February 10, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick testified before the Senate Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations Subcommittee. Subcommittee members diverted from the hearing topic to ask about census issues:
- Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), a member of the CJS Subcommittee and Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight jurisdiction of the Census Bureau, asked Secretary Lutnick several questions related to the 2026 Census Test. Specifically, Senator Peters expressed concern about the Department’s decision to cancel 4 of the 6 test sites. In addition, he asked the Secretary to clarify if a citizenship question was going to be part of the 2026 Census Test questionnaire.
- Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) also had an extensive back-and-forth with Lutnick about how the Census Bureau measures poverty, including that non-cash payments from the Federal government are not counted.
Poverty Statistics Enhancement Act (S. 3756)
Based on the same concerns raised at that hearing, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the Poverty Statistics Enhancement Act (S. 3756) to require the U.S. Census Bureau to incorporate the distributional analysis of household income used by the Congressional Budget Office in measuring poverty. He also discussed the legislation in a National Review article the day after the hearing, noting that, “If you include the non-cash benefits and cash payments (from the person’s earnings and from the federal government), the actual percentage of Americans with incomes at or below the poverty line is only 1 percent.”
How the 2020 Census Undercount Impacted Federal Funding in Florida Counties
A recent report examined “the flow of federal funding” into Florida, at the county level, from “24 programs, totaling more than $20.80 billion in federal spending on economic development, education, health, housing, infrastructure, and Medicaid and Medicare in the state of Florida.” The Project on Government Oversight (POGO) report noted that the group zeroed in on the state because Florida was “one of six states identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as having a significant undercount in the 2020 Census.”
Requests for Public Comments
Throughout January, The Census Project highlighted requests for public comments that may be of interest to census stakeholders, including:
- Comments on proposed and continuing data collections for the Automated Export System by February 26, 2026. This is a follow-up from a prior comment request this past fall;
- Comment on revising the Annual Business Survey by March 6, 2026; and
- Comment on the March and May data collections for the Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS) by March 9, 2026.
Census Bureau Releases
On February 2, 2026, the U.S. Census Bureau “announced the launch of the 2026 Census Test. The test will focus on operations in two of the planned test site locations (Huntsville, AL and Spartanburg, SC). These operations include evaluating the use of the U.S. Postal Service in various capacities typically performed by Census Bureau field workers and limited activities for in-field enumeration. The Census Bureau remains committed to conducting the most accurate count in history for the 2030 Census and looks forward to the continued partnership with local communities.”
The U.S. Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis on February 12 and February 26.
The U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released new summary tables and public use files for the 2024 Rental Housing Finance Survey (RHFS). The RHFS provides measures of financial, mortgage and property characteristics of U.S. residential properties with at least one housing rental unit.
The Bureau announced new data-sharing partnerships with educational institutions in Idaho and North Carolina for its Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes (PSEO) experimental data product. The PSEO provides earnings and employment outcomes for college and university graduates by degree level, degree major, post-secondary institution, and state of institution, and is used by parents, students, institutions, and workforce agencies to learn about the labor force outcomes of graduates.
The Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics (BFS) for January 2026. The BFS provide timely and high frequency information on new business applications and formations in the United States and Puerto Rico.
The Bureau released the main set of data from the 2023 Annual Integrated Economic Survey (AIES), offering the first single, comprehensive annual snapshot of U.S. employer businesses. Lisa Donaldson, Assistant Associate Director for Economic Programs at the Census Bureau commented on the release in a Random Samplings blog post.
News You Can Use
Below are several articles posted on The Census Project home page in January 2026. For a complete listing, go to 2026 Media. The news media coverage is not necessarily endorsed or supported by The Census Project but is provided to give census stakeholders a wide spectrum of views and materials.
Controversial citizenship question added to upcoming census test
Science
February 25, 2026
U.S. Population Growth Is Slowing to Near Zero
PRB
February 23, 2026
Census Bureau’s Poverty Definition Lambasted
MrWeb
February 23, 2026
Republicans score another court win on redistricting. Will this one force Virginia Supreme Court to act faster?
Cardinal News
February 20, 2026
States Lose An Early Warning System As Monthly Census Tax Data Disappear
Tax Policy Center
February 19, 2026
Colorado Democrats Push to Rip Up 2028 House Map for an Extra Edge
The New York Times
February 18, 2026
Huntsville testing census, one of two cities in the country
WAFF
February 11, 2026
Reduced immigration slowed population growth for the nation and most states, new census data show
Brookings
February 11, 2026
The Media Botch the Gerrymandering Story
The National Review
February 10, 2026
Republicans are Pushing to Make the American Community Survey Voluntary. History Shows That’s a Death Sentence for Data.
Planetizen
February 8, 2026
Census Migration Data Show the Value of Freedom
The Daily Economy
February 6, 2026
Colorado Springs dropped from list of U.S. Census test sites
Colorado Public Radio
February 5, 2026
Population shifts likely to shrink rural clout in Congress
Agri-Pulse
February 4, 2026
The Blue State Population Bust
Wall Street Journal
February 1, 2026
