Appreciation for Ron Jarmin
The Census Project joins census stakeholders to congratulate Dr. Ron Jarmin, former Census Bureau Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, on his retirement. During his lengthy career at the U.S. Census Bureau, Ron served as the Acting Director on three occasions: from 2017 to 2019, from 2021 to 2022, and most recently from January to September 2025. Throughout his tenure, he championed modernization efforts, including the introduction of internet response for the 2020 Census and transitioning the Economic Census to 100 percent internet data collection starting in 2017. Ron is recognized for his stalwart commitment to the Bureau, its workforce, and the agency’s core mission to deliver high-quality, accessible data. On May 15, 2026, Ron officially retired. His replacement has not been announced.
Appropriations Update
On May 13, by a vote of 32-28, the House Appropriations Committee approved H.R. 8845, its version of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) Appropriations bill, funding the Census Bureau, among other federal agencies.
The bill recommends that the Census Bureau receive $1.49 billion in Fiscal Year 2027, an amount equal to what the agency received in FY 2026. This funding level is approximately $521 million below the Administration’s request, $2.01 billion, and even farther below the funding level of $2.11 billion endorsed by 85 members of The Census Project and 44 bipartisan members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Prior to the full committee’s consideration of the bill, The Census Project sent a statement to the Committee expressing concern about the bill’s proposed funding level. In addition, the statement addressed Section 579 of the bill, which would preclude the Census Bureau from enforcing the mandatory response requirement of the decennial census and ACS, while also limiting the Bureau to no more than two follow up inquiries across all of its surveys. The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights sent a letter to the Committee expressing concern not only about those issues, but also Section 553 of the bill, which would exclude “aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States” from the apportionment base.
The Senate Appropriations Committee is marking up its version of the FY 2027 CJS Appropriations bill on June 4.
The Census Project provided complete coverage of the House mark up and bill in a May 19 blog.
Policy Update
Administration Releases Census Bureau’s FY 2027 Congressional Justification
In a May 1 blog, The Census Project summarized major provisions of the Census Bureau’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Congressional Justification (CJ). The CJ, which was released at the end of April, provides Congress with additional details about the agency’s proposed budget, including its spending and policy priorities. Among other things, the CJ provides insights into the agency’s plans for the 2027 Economic Census, Annual Integrated Economic Survey, American Community Survey, and 2030 Census preparations. Missing from the CJ, however, were any details about the Bureau’s plans to launch an outreach plan, partnership program, or communications contract in 2027 for the 2030 Census. Typically, the plans are unveiled in year 7 leading up to the 2030 Census.
Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act Introduced
In a May 30 blog, The Census Project summarized a bill, The Citizen Only Updated National Tally Act (COUNT Act) (H.R. 5156). The bill, which was recently introduced by Representative August Pfluger (R-TX-11), would seek “to develop complete and accurate data on the number of citizens, noncitizens, and illegal aliens in the country.” H.R. 5156 would prohibit the Census Bureau from using “the differential privacy process” within 6 months of the bill’s enactment. The Bureau would need to “issue public guidance on how the privacy of individual responses will be guaranteed in the absence of such process.”
Requests for Public Comments
Throughout May, The Census Project published several blogs, highlighting requests for public comments that may be of interest to census stakeholders:
- Commodity Flow Survey—The Census Bureau is seeking comments on Commodity Flow Survey’s (CFS) proposed reinstatement. The Federal Register Notice lists a variety of changes proposed to reduce burden on respondents and the number of respondents for the 2027 CFS. More information, including instructions for submitting comments, is available here. Comments are due July 20, 2026.
- American Community Survey (ACS) and the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS)—In a May 14 Federal Register notice (FRN), the Census Bureau announced it is seeking comments on revisions to the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS). The notice omits a key aspect of the earlier notice, without explanation. In the original December 2025 FRN, the Census Bureau proposed revising the ACS race and ethnicity questions starting in 2027, to comply with OMB Statistical Policy Directive 15 (SPD 15) that requires a combined race and ethnicity question with a new Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category and collection of detailed subgroup data whenever possible. Stakeholders have flagged the lack of any mention of the issue one way or another, and anyone interested in SPD 15 should consider filing comments. Comments are due June 14, 2026.
- 2026 Locate Address Test for Accessory Dwelling Units—On May 6, the Census Bureau announced it is seeking public comments on its plans to conduct a Local Address Test for Accessory Dwelling Units in Maryland and Indiana. The results will help refine strategies for the 2030 Census Local Update of Census Addresses (LUCA) operation. Comments are due June 6, 2026.
Census Bureau Releases
On May 26, the U.S. Census Bureau released data tables examining the educational characteristics of people age 3 and over. The data are based on statistics from the 2024 School Enrollment Supplement.
New data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis, were released on May 21 and May 7.
The 2024 Community Resilience Estimates for Puerto Rico, which include population estimates by level of social vulnerability to disasters for the commonwealth, municipios and census tracts, was released on May 21.
On May 19, the Bureau released the 2023 Local Air Conditioning Estimates (LACE), a new experimental data product that provides local data on how many homes have air conditioning. The estimates are available for the nation, states, counties and census tracts, offering a detailed look at communities where households may be more vulnerable during extreme heat.
Data that the Census Bureau released on May 14 from the 2025 Vintage Population Estimates demonstrated that population growth in mid-sized U.S. cities remained close to the year’s previous patterns.
On May 14, the Annual Survey of Public Pensions was released. The survey provides revenues, expenditures, financial assets, and membership information about defined-benefit public pension systems.
The April 2026 Business Formation Statistics (BFS) were released on May 13. The BFS provide timely and high frequency information on new business applications and formations in the United States and Puerto Rico.
On May 7, the Bureau released the 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances, which provides data about public school per-pupil spending.
On May 1, the Bureau officially kicked off the 2026 Census Test, inviting households in designated areas of Spartanburg, South Carolina and Huntsville, Alabama to participate. More information is available on the 2026 Census Test website.
News You Can Use
Below are several articles posted on The Census Project home page in May 2026. For a complete listing, go to: 2026 Media – The Census Project. (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.)
Immigration decline is reversing post-COVID population growth in these cities
USA TODAY
May 27, 2026
Census data shows Upstate mid-size cites grew more than larger ones
WSPA
May 22, 2026
Mapped: America’s Most-Spoken Languages After English and Spanish
Visual Capitalist
May 17, 2026
America Has Way Too Many Men With This 1 Name, According to the Census
TODAY
May 12, 2026
President Trump Can Stop Racial Profiling Immediately
Cato Institute
May 12, 2026
Census Accuracy at Risk as 2030 Deadline Approaches
Legis1
May 12, 2026
Two Court Decisions Have Unleashed an Era of Perpetual Redistricting
The New York Times
May 9, 2026
