Digital Government
House plans $1B bump for Census over White House request
A former Census director told FCW that the bureau appears to be "in pretty good shape right now" when it comes to funding.
Digital Government
Oversight chairman agrees to subpoena DOJ after census hearing no-show
House Oversight and Government Reform Committee chair Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) is moving to subpoena the Department of Justice after the head of its Civil Rights Division skipped a hearing on the 2020 census.
Digital Government
House Dems push to subpoena Commerce over census question
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee are seeking documentation behind a controversial decision made by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to include a citizenship question on the 2020 population survey.
Digital Government
Census worried about costs of late changes to 2020 survey
The Census Bureau has added a new area to its list of its major operational concerns that could affect the design or the successful implementation of the 2020 count: cost impacts of late changes.
Digital Government
GAO, Census differ on IT readiness
Uncertainty over the impact the addition of the citizenship question and IT systems' readiness dominated a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing intended to discuss the Census Bureau's fiscal year 2019 budget.
Digital Government
Lawmakers hear from Census officials on citizenship question
Following a closed-door briefing from top Census officials, lawmakers still have questions about a move to ask Americans about their citizenship on the 2020 population count.
Digital Government
Census advisers blast citizenship question
Concern over the addition of the citizenship question dominated a Census advisory committee meeting, but the bureau still has cybersecurity and operational challenges on its plate.
Digital Government
2020 Census to include citizenship question
The Department of Commerce is breaking with recent practice and restoring a question about respondent citizenship last used in 1950, despite being urged not to by former Census directors and outside experts.
Digital Government
Omnibus boosts Census funding
The 2018 funding bill gives the bureau a long-sought funding increase as it enters a make-or-break testing period.
Digital Government
Commerce chief pushes Congress for census funding
Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross pushed appropriators to fund the updated lifecycle cost for the census, but offered little about the citizenship question and the search for a permanent director.
Digital Government
Trump campaign taps census question as a fund-raising tool
A fundraising email for the Trump-Pence reelection campaign is trying to get supporters behind a controversial change to the census -- asking respondents whether or not they are U.S. citizens.
Digital Government
2018 Census test launches amid unanswered questions
As the Census Bureau kicks off its critical dress rehearsal for the decennial count, the agency faces IT systems unreadiness, funding uncertainty, a lack of permanent leadership and concerns over low response rates.
Acquisition
Can Census staff up for 2020?
With the decennial count looming, a watchdog report finds problems with how the Census Bureau handles background checks of temporary employees.
People
Students recruiting students into federal tech
Steve Kelman checks in with the Coding it Forward fellowship program.
Digital Government
Are postal carriers out as potential census takers?
Lawmakers are pressing the Census Bureau's decision to ditch a pilot program to test postal workers as enumerators in the 2020 population count.
Digital Government
Lawmakers press Census Bureau on readiness
Key members of the House Oversight committee want answers from Census Bureau leaders about readiness for critical 2018 tests.
Modernization
Will the Census Bureau's IT systems be ready for 2020?
For the 2020 census and beyond, the bureau has worked to develop a centralized data collection and processing system to improve cost and tech management. But will it be ready in time for 2020?
People
Experts fear Trump budget shortchanges Census
As the Census Bureau looks down the home stretch toward the 2020 population count, experts say the proposed $3.8 billion FY 2019 budget isn't enough.
People
Critical Census test to start on schedule, as long as the government doesn't shut down
Despite its unconfirmed budget and the possibility of another shutdown, the Census Bureau is moving ahead with its plans to conduct its critical dress rehearsal on time.
Digital Government