A new report from the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Commerce Department about top management and performance challenges for fiscal year (FY) 2027 highlights the 2030 Census, among other potential pain points.
“The upcoming 2030 census is a massive program—planning began in 2019, and the program will not end until 3 years after the count. In FY 2027, the Census Bureau must make sure its plans for 2030 will provide enough oversight over the count and follow-up operations to ensure the 9 accuracy of its data—data that will help stakeholders make important political, economic, and social policy decisions that affect the entire nation.”
“As the bureau plans to ramp up hiring and conduct testing in preparation for the 2030 census, it needs to ensure that it has a sufficient budget to evaluate initiatives untested during its 2026 Census Test, one of two major tests to measure the effectiveness of census systems and methods. Without adequate testing, the bureau will not be able to verify that its census operations will work as intended.”
- Top Management and Performance Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce in Fiscal Year 2027 October 1, 2026 Report OIG-27-001 https://www.oig.doc.gov/wp-content/OIGPublications/OIG-27-001_SECURED.pdf
