GAO Warns Census Bureau to Address Risk Areas Prior 2020 Count

In a new report, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has called for immediate action by the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau to avert risks in the 2020 Decennial Census. Initial concerns about the 2020 Census, including vacancies in the Census Bureau, a lack of best practices for scheduling the thousands of activities that comprise it, cybersecurity risks, implementation issues, and other concerns, were included in the GAO's 2017 High Risk List.

In 2019, the 2020 Decennial Census remained on the High Risk List but was praised for improvements in several key areas, such as leadership commitment. Issues relating to vacancies, cybersecurity weaknesses and IT oversight, and scheduling remained a top concern for the watchdog group.

The GAO report explained, “For the 2020 Census, the U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) plans to implement several innovations, including new IT systems. The challenges associated with successfully implementing these innovations, along with other challenges, puts the Bureau’s ability to conduct a cost-effective census at risk.”

A subsequent report from the agency issued in May 2019 found 360 active risk areas to the Decennial Census. Of these, 242 required a mitigation plan to reduce the chance of risk and 232 had one; 146 required a contingency plan to recover from possible risk and 102 had one. GAO recommended creating clear plans for timing and risk management, among other suggestions. The agency agreed with these recommendations.

In response to concerns from members of Congress regarding the Census Bureau’s preparedness for the 2020 enumeration, the GAO has produced a July report updating lawmakers on the agency’s progress.

The July report noted that over the past decade the GAO has offered the Census Bureau 106 recommendations. As of June 2019, only 31 recommendations had yet to be fully implemented.

The GAO listed the primary concerns for the Census Bureau to be (1) the use of innovations that are not expected to be fully tested, (2) continued challenges in implementing information technology (IT) systems, and (3) significant cybersecurity risks to its systems and data.

The agency furtger encouraged the Census Bureau to learn from the 2010 Census’ mistakes regarding the “ensuring that the Bureau’s organizational culture and structure, as well as its approach to strategic planning, human capital management, internal collaboration, knowledge sharing, capital decision-making, risk and change management, and other internal functions are aligned toward delivering more cost-effective outcomes.”

The report ultimately called for continued attention by management to ensure that preparation and recommendations are on track.