Census Program Stays: Local Governments Get Mid-Decade Headcounts
Published Date: 11/21/2025
Notice
Summary
The Census Bureau is asking for approval to keep running its Special Census Program, which helps local governments get updated population counts between the big 10-year censuses. This program affects cities, counties, and other local areas that need fresh data due to growth or changes, and it costs them to request it. The government is inviting comments for 30 more days before finalizing, so communities can plan ahead and budget for this important count.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Local Governments Must Pay for Special Census
Local governments (cities, counties, and other political subdivisions) must pay the Census Bureau to run a special census on a cost-reimbursable basis. The cost varies by the government's housing and population counts, the Census Bureau provides a cost estimate and Memorandum of Agreement, and work begins only after a signed MOA and an initial payment are transmitted; requests for cost estimates are accepted through May 2027.
Special Census Data Limits and Privacy Protections
Special census results will be delivered to requesting governments and posted at data.census.gov, but they will not be used to update official 2020 Census products or apportionment counts; they may be used to update the Population Estimates Program. All special census statistics will be subject to disclosure avoidance using differential privacy methods consistent with 2020 Census products.
Residents May Be Asked to Spend Time Responding
If your area requests a special census, you may be asked to respond online or in person; the notice estimates 357,080 respondents with about 10 minutes per Special Census questionnaire and total burden hours of 59,560. The Census Bureau will send invitation letters, reminders, and may follow up in the field or by phone to nonresponding housing units.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20249, Notice of Data Sharing Activity
Starting October 2, 2026, the Census Bureau will share some business survey data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) to help make U.S. economic stats more accurate and efficient. This affects businesses that voluntarily provide info in Census surveys, with no legal pressure to share. Only trusted BEA staff sworn to keep data secret will see the info, and there’s no cost impact for businesses.
2026-20155, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD)
The Census Bureau wants to keep collecting data for the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics (LEHD) program, which helps track jobs and workers over time. They’re asking the public to comment by November 30, 2026, before they get final approval from the Office of Management and Budget. This keeps the data flowing without adding extra hassle or cost to businesses and workers.
2026-20167, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; DOC-Census Workforce Development Collection
The Census Bureau is asking for approval to collect info from 230 workforce training groups linked to Manufacturing USA and two grant programs. This new data will help track how well these training programs work by connecting participant info with Census data. The goal? To make smarter decisions about future workforce investments without adding too much extra work—each group spends just 1-2 hours a year on this.
2026-20153, Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Quarterly Services Survey (QSS)
The U.S. Census Bureau wants to keep running the Quarterly Services Survey for three more years without changes. This survey asks certain U.S. service businesses for info to help track the economy. If you’re involved, you can comment by November 30, 2026, but there’s no new cost or extra paperwork planned.
2026-19301, Proposed Data Sharing Activity
The Census Bureau wants to share some business data with the Bureau of Economic Analysis to help improve economic reports. This change affects businesses whose data is collected and aims to make government info more useful without extra costs. People have until November 23, 2026, to share their thoughts on this plan.
2026-18481, Decennial Census of the Population of Americans; Proposed Residence Criteria and Proposed Regulations for Demographic Questions
The Census Bureau is proposing to add two new parts to the Code of Federal Regulations governing the decennial census of population and housing. First, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part outlining the residence criteria used for identifying each person's "usual residence," as needed to determine whether and where to count them in the census of the population throughout the United States. Second, the Census Bureau is proposing to add a part establishing standards and restrictions for the inclusion of certain demographic questions on the decennial census short-form questionnaire and any other questionnaire used for the enumeration of the population. The Census Bureau is considering these two additions to better prioritize and fulfill its Constitutional mandate to count for apportionment the "whole number of persons in each State" based on the concept of "usual residence"--a process that factors in an element of allegiance but otherwise should be colorblind and should not be distorted in any way by questions about immaterial personal characteristics, such as race. Although these two parts are somewhat related and complementary, each is being proposed independently based on its own merits. These proposals are intended to ensure fidelity to the Constitution, improve and protect the core decennial census data, and promote efficiency.
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