Census Bureau Revises Community Survey for White House Review
Published Date: 12/19/2025
Notice
Summary
The Census Bureau is updating the American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey and wants your feedback by February 17, 2026. These surveys help gather important info about people and communities, so changes aim to make them easier and less time-consuming. If you live in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, these updates could affect how often and what questions you answer, but there’s no new cost to you.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Puerto Rico gets online response option
In 2027 the Puerto Rico Community Survey (PRCS) will add an internet self-response option for households and people in certain group quarters (college housing, group homes, military barracks, workers' quarters, and emergency/transitional shelters). The PRCS currently samples about 36,000 housing unit addresses in Puerto Rico each year, and the new online option will mirror the ACS online collection method.
Race and ethnicity question updated
The proposed 2027 ACS and PRCS content includes an updated race and ethnicity question that follows OMB's 2024 Statistical Policy Directive No. 15 (SPD 15). The Census will move from using the OMB 1997 SPD 15 standard to the updated 2024 SPD 15 for how race and ethnicity are asked and tabulated.
Survey participation is mandatory with time burden
The ACS/PRCS information collection is mandatory under Title 13 U.S.C., and the average household questionnaire is estimated to take 40 minutes. The Census estimates 3,576,000 household respondents, a total annual respondent count of 3,770,997, and total annual burden hours of 2,455,825; the notice also states the estimated total annual cost to the public is $0.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
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.
2026-20167, 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.
2026-20155, 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.
2026-20153, 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.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2025-23328, Senior Executive Service Performance Review Board
The IRS just announced the team of top bosses who will review how well senior executives did their jobs in Fiscal Year 2025. This group will decide on performance ratings, pay raises, and awards starting December 16, 2025. If you’re a senior IRS leader, this means your work will be officially judged by this new board, but no big changes or costs are expected.
Next: 2025-23330, Self-Regulatory Organizations; Nasdaq ISE, LLC; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To Adopt ISE Options 9, Section 25 To Codify an Options Unbundling Rule
Nasdaq ISE just made a new rule official: members can’t split up orders unless it’s to get the best deal for customers. This change affects traders and firms using the exchange and kicks in right away, helping keep trading fair and square. No extra fees or delays—just clearer rules to keep everyone honest.