Appropriations Update
FY 2025
Washington, D.C. has been focused on budget resolutions and the reconciliation process, but the federal government, including the U.S. Census Bureau, remains funded (at the Fiscal Year 2024 levels) through March 14, 2025, when the current Continuing Resolution (CR) will expire.
The House and Senate appear to have still not agreed on top-line funding numbers for FY 2025. Reports indicate that Democrats and Republicans are also struggling to agree on other issues, making the most likely outcome another CR, but this one would run until the end of FY 2025.
On February 4, The Census Project sent a letter to Congressional appropriations leaders, signed by over 60 national, state, and local organizations, reiterating support for the level of funding recommended by the Senate Appropriations Committee ($1.57 billion) in the final Fiscal Year 2025 appropriations measure and expressing concerns about the potential impacts of a prolonged CR on the Census Bureau’s operations.
FY 2026
Even though the President’s budget has not yet been submitted, Congress is already preparing for FY 2026 appropriations.
To inform their individual funding priorities and interests, members of Congress open web-based portals on their home pages to solicit input from stakeholders and constituents. As an example, Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) opened her FY 2026 appropriations request portal through February 28, 2025. The websites for members of the U.S. House of Representatives are accessible at http://www.house.gov, while the U.S. Senators’ sites are available at www.senate.gov.
If your organization engages with federal policymakers and prioritizes funding for the U.S. Census Bureau, it is important to take advantage of this open opportunity to encourage full support for the Census Bureau in Fiscal Year 2026.
The portals are not standardized, and the level of requested information varies. However, at a minimum, most portals ask for a summary of the request and how the program impacts individuals in a member’s district or state (in 200 words or less).
This Census Project blog shares sample language and funding level information your organization may use and adapt if you choose to submit requests in support of funding the U.S. Census Bureau in FY 2026.
Policy Update
Ron Jarmin Appointed Acting Census Bureau Director
On February 20, the U.S. Census Bureau’s home page revealed that Dr. Ron Jarmin has been appointed as the agency’s Acting Director.
Former Director Robert Santos left the Census Bureau on February 14, 2025. Ron, a career Census Bureau employee, served previously as the Acting Director from January 2021-January 2022. His bio on the agency’s home page notes that he “is also currently the deputy director and chief operating officer and has been since January 2019.”
New Commerce Secretary Lutnick Confirmed by U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate confirmed Howard Lutnick to be Secretary of the Commerce Department on February 18, 2025, by a 51 to 45 vote. In his new role, he will have authority over the Census Bureau.
Lutnick was the CEO of Cantor Fitzgerald, an American-based financial services firm. He takes over the Department at an important moment in the decennial census cycle, as the Census Bureau prepares for field tests next year, but continues to operate under a continuing funding resolution.
During his confirmation hearing at the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on January 29, Lutnick discussed the census with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI), concluding that, “we will count each whole person.”
Among the questions submitted to Lutnick for written follow-up were a pair suggested by the Census Project and asked by Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI) for the record.
Peters first asked about census funding: “Mr. Lutnick, the Department of Commerce houses the Census Bureau, a critical agency. The Bureau conducts the census, the only comprehensive source of data about our nation. It also leads essential surveys – like the Economic Census and the American Community Survey – which provide the data for our nation’s economic indicators, and help businesses determine how to invest and create jobs. Census data affect our roads, hospitals, schools, fire departments, veterans’ services, small businesses, and more. To carry out this mission, especially in rural communities and others that are hard to count, the Bureau needs sufficient funding. If confirmed, will you work with me to ensure that Census Bureau funding is a priority for the Commerce Department?“
Lutnick responded: “Upon confirmation, I commit to working with you and your staff on issues pertaining to the Census Bureau.”
Peters asked another question focused on the upcoming census field tests in Fiscal Year 2026: “Mr. Lutnick, Next fiscal year, the Census Bureau is planning to conduct the 2026 Census Test, the first major on-the-ground tests to prepare for the 2030 Census. These tests, conducted in six sites nationwide, will evaluate innovative technologies and methodologies to help ensure the next decennial count is accurate and cost efficient, including for rural areas, tribal areas, high-growth areas, and others. To ensure the success of this critical planning phase, the Bureau needs the ability to hire staff, as well as reliable funding. What are your plans for ensuring continuity of operations for the 2026 Census Test?“
Lutnick responded: “Upon confirmation, I plan to work closely with Census Bureau leadership and staff to ensure the effectiveness of its operations.”
119th Congress Organizes—Key Census Committee Assignments Posted
Throughout the month of January, key committees in the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S Senate responsible for funding and overseeing the U.S. Census Bureau announced their leadership and rosters. The Census Project issued two blogs summarizing major assignments in the House and Senate, including those made to the Commerce, Justice Science Appropriations Subcommittees in both chambers and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Revisions to Census Oversight Committees in the 119th Congress
At the time this new blog was published, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which has oversight authority of the Census Bureau, had not announced its complete subcommittee rosters.
In a February 6 media release, Committee Chairman Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Ranking Member Gary Peters (D-MI) announced that the following members had been assigned to serve on the Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census:
Subcommittee on Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census
- Josh Hawley (R-MO) – Chair
- Andy Kim (D-NJ) – Ranking Member
- Rick Scott (R-FL)
- Joni Ernst (R-IA)
- Ashley Moody (R-FL)
- Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- Elissa Slotkin (D-MI)
In related news, the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee confirmed to The Census Project that the Census Bureau would fall under the jurisdiction of its Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Energy Policy and Regulatory Affairs. That subcommittee is chaired by Representative Eric Burlison (R-MO-7) and the Ranking Member is Representative Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10). A complete roster of subcommittee members is posted on the subcommittee’s website.
Federal Register Notice on 2026 Census Test
The Census Bureau is seeking public comment on “Peak Data Collection” and the 2026 Census Test by March 11, 2025. The Federal Register Notice notes that the 2026 Census Test “is the first of two major field tests planned to help the Census Bureau prepare for the 2030 Census… it is a scaled-down version of the selected aspects of the census conducted in six field sites across the nation.” See the Census Project’s blog for more details.
SWAG Act – S. 210
Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) reintroduced the Stop Wasteful Advertising by the Government Act (SWAG Act) (S. 210), legislation that would “prohibit agencies from using Federal funds for publicity or propaganda purposes.” At first glance, this would be detrimental to the Census Bureau, which requires a big national campaign to encourage decennial Census response.
However, S. 210 provides an explicit exemption for “an item distributed by the Bureau of the Census to assist the Bureau in conducting a census of the population of the United States.” Therefore, S. 210 should not impede the decennial census or American Community Survey (ACS).
The bill has 3 cosponsors and has been referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs for further consideration.
Census-Directed Spending in Michigan
A series of new reports illustrate federal spending directed to Michigan that depends on accurate census data. The reports, from the Project on Government Oversight, detail $10.9 billion in FY 2022 from 23 census-guided federal programs, down to the county level, on several different issue areas.
Census Bureau News
The U.S. Census Bureau will offer a two-day embargo period for qualified media to view the Vintage 2024 estimates of total population and components of change for U.S. counties and metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas, and total population for Puerto Rico municipios and metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. These estimates reflect population changes between April 1, 2020, and July 1, 2024.
Census Bureau Data Releases
The U.S. Census Bureau released new data products from the Business Trends and Outlook Survey (BTOS), a survey that measures business conditions and projections on an ongoing basis, on February 13 and February 27.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new Business Formation Statistics (BFS) for January 2025. The BFS provide timely and high frequency information on new business applications and formations in the United States. The BFS are a standard data product of the Census Bureau, developed in research collaboration with economists affiliated with the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, the University of Maryland, and the University of Notre Dame.
The U.S. Census Bureau released new Comparative and Bridge Statistics data tables from the 2022 Economic Census.
News You Can Use
For a complete listing of articles posted on The Census Project home page, go to: 2025 Media – The Census Project.
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