Digital Government

'Perfect Storm' Threatens 'Major Institutional Defeat' for the Census, Top Watchdog Says

The decennial count is ahead of schedule overall, but a condensed schedule and hiring shortfalls are creating significant risks.

Ideas

Shortened Census Count Will Hurt Communities of Color

Some communities face less convenient access to the mail, telephone and online services needed to respond to the survey while others distrust the system.

Digital Government

Condensed Schedule and Counters Not Showing Up to Work Have Put the Census at Risk

Census has just a month to complete its count and GAO says it still faces significant challenges in collecting accurate data.

Ideas

AI Methods Make COVID-19 Forecasting More Local

The researchers say that officials and anyone in the public can use in their decision-making processes.

Ideas

Pandemic, Privacy Rules Add to Worries over 2020 Census Accuracy

People who work with statistics know that there needs to be “good data in” in order to get “good data out.”

Digital Government

Census Established a Governance Group on Data Quality Amid COVID-19 Worries

A new GAO report shows the bureau continuing to struggle with privacy and data security issues.  

Digital Government

Cyber and IT challenges remain as Census resumes operations

The IT systems needed to carry out the 2020 Census still face numerous testing challenges and unaddressed critical cybersecurity flaws, according to a new oversight report.

Artificial Intelligence

Census Bureau Seeks Industry Input on Cybersecurity Acquisitions Strategy for Next Decade

With data collection for the 2020 census underway, the bureau is thinking about how artificial intelligence and other capabilities might help address sore points.

Digital Government

States Start Hiring Battalions of Contact Tracers to Track Covid-19

As governors look to loosen coronavirus restrictions, a key benchmark will be improving the ability to track and isolate new cases. That will include more “contact tracers,” investigators who track down those who’ve come in contact with infected people.

Digital Government

How Census Is Building a Citizenship Database Covering Everyone Living in the U.S.

By March 2021, the bureau plans to release anonymized statistics while keeping the raw data on individuals' citizenship status confidential.

Digital Government

One-Third of U.S. Residents Suspicious of Census, Survey Finds

As the political stakes become clearer, more states are trying to motivate residents to participate in the census this spring.

Digital Government

One Month Out, Watchdog Warns About Census IT and Cybersecurity Challenges

The Census Bureau this month switched the internet response system that respondents will use to complete the 2020 census questionnaire. The last-minute change worries the Government Accountability Office.

People

GAO, Congress warn on Census staffing, cyber

On the eve of the 2020 census, oversight bodies are warning on risks that could compromise the population count.

Digital Government

The Census Already Started in Alaska. Native Translators Are Working to Prevent Undercount Repeat.

Across the country, tribal and non-English speaking communities are creating guidance and messages in a variety of languages to encourage Census 2020 participation.

Cybersecurity

DHS maps out data sharing with Census Bureau

Data on travel, immigration and enforcement from the Department of Homeland Security will be used by the Census Bureau as part of a plan to determine the number of immigrants and non-citizens residing in the U.S. in the 2020 population count.

Digital Government

Census Fails Key Recruiting and Hiring Tests as It Gears Up for 2020 Count

Despite warnings of delays and cost overruns, agency says it's confident operations will not be interrupted.

Cybersecurity

House passes new stopgap funding bill to avert shutdown

House and Senate appropriators are hopeful they can work out their remaining differences on spending bills in the period after the Thanksgiving recess and before the new continuing resolution expires.

Cybersecurity

GAO: Census Risks Missing Deadlines on 15 IT Systems Ahead of 2020 

With Census Day less than six months away, officials have no room for error in system development, testing and deployment.