Digital Government
As trial looms, survey shows citizenship question could harm 2020 census
A national opinion study commissioned by the Census Bureau warned a controversial question on citizenship could be a "major barrier" to operations.
Cybersecurity
Census Bureau Isn’t Properly Managing Its Risk Management Review System
A lack of continuous assessment and oversight led to bad reporting, which in turn led to bad decision-making and a weak cybersecurity posture.
Digital Government
Census Bureau: Tests show tech is saving time and money
While the agency is facing multiple challenges to operations for the 2020 population count, officials said the use of tech to obtain responses from U.S. residents and carry out enumerations on the ground will pay dividends.
People
Lawmakers hear from Trump's pick to lead the Census Bureau
If confirmed, Steven Dillingham will be the first permanent director of the bureau since June 2017, and he would take over after the bureau's 2018 end-to-end test, the final in-field test of systems and operations before the decennial count.
Digital Government
GAO: $15.6 billion census cost estimate not reliable
The Census Bureau bumped its lifecycle cost estimate for the 2020 count up to $15.6 billion last year -- more than $3 billion more than initially projected. But the GAO is, again, taking issue with the reliability of the estimate.
Digital Government
First-ever online census lags on tech issues
Plans for a first-ever online census are lagging on IT readiness, a government watchdog says, and there's still work to do securing systems and data.
Digital Government
Census Bureau Must Fix 3,100 Cyber Vulnerabilities Before 2020 Count
The first digital census has suffered from delays and ballooning IT costs, an auditor’s report states.
Acquisition
Census grapples with IT and (now) paper challenges
In addition to questions over systems readiness and cybersecurity, the first-ever online census is now working to straighten out issues on the paper-based side of the decennial population count -- all against a ticking clock.
People
Civic Digital Fellows showcase a second year's work in Washington
Thirty-six students from across the country spent the summer tackling tech challenges that ranged from data transparency to website redesign to machine learning.
Digital Government
Census Awards Last Major IT Contract Ahead of 2020 Count
The award comes as officials work to get preparations for the 2020 count back on track.
People
Census details cyber strategies, awards last major IT contract
Census Bureau officials sought to address swirling concerns about what the agency is doing to protect sensitive response data and mitigate cyber risks.
Digital Government
Clock ticks on census prep
As the clock ticks down to the 2020 census, lawmakers and watchdogs want to make sure the Census Bureau is on schedule to count the entire population.
Digital Government
Census Bureau Fumbles a 'Foundational' Part of the 2020 Trial Run
The Census Bureau is facing more problems in the lead up to the 2020 Census.
People
Senior fed is Trump's pick to lead Census Bureau
Steven Dillingham, director of the Office of Strategic Information, Research, and Planning at the Peace Corps, was nominated to lead the Census Bureau through 2021.
Cybersecurity
Census Should Be More Transparent About Cyber Protections, Former Officials Say
The Census Bureau will conduct its first largely online decennial census in 2020 but hasn’t said how it will secure the process.
Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity experts worry about census data
A group of former senior cybersecurity officials want the Census Bureau to be more transparent about plans to protect population survey data.
Digital Government
Census seeks software help for internet response
As Census wraps up its in-field test of operations and systems that will be used in 2020, the bureau is seeking information about software related to its survey questionnaires.
Digital Government
House, Senate bills split on Census funding
House and Senate appropriators differ by $1 billion in their bills to fund the Census Bureau in fiscal year 2019.
Cybersecurity
Census IT costs close in on $5 billion
Census documents reveal the rising costs of the 2020 census -- and indicate that existing tech can be leveraged to obtain accurate citizenship data without adding a new question to the population survey.
Digital Government