DOGE targets Census Bureau, worrying data users about health of US data infrastructure
The group run by Elon Musk and his aides to cut federal spending in the second Trump administration is targeting some surveys conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau it claims are 'wasteful," worrying users of federal data already concerned about the health of the nation's statistical infrastructure.
The Department of Government Efficiency said on social media this week that five surveys costing $16.5 million that are conducted by the statistical agency for other federal agencies have been 'terminated' but didn't specify which ones. Some of the questions on the eliminated surveys asked about alcohol consumption and the frequency that respondents used the internet in their home, according to the post.
Other surveys are being reviewed 'one-by-one,' said Tuesday's post on DOGE's X account. The Census Bureau didn't respond this week to an inquiry seeking comment.
Based on the post, it's highly possible that the eliminated surveys included the Survey of Inmates in Local Jails, which gathered information on inmates for the Department of Justice, and the Ask U.S. Panel, an internet survey conducted with the Department of Defense, said Beth Jarosz, a senior program director at the Population Reference Bureau, a nonpartisan research organization.
There is a public process for changing government surveys that involves giving notice and seeking public comment, and anything that is canceled without going through that process may be violating the law, Jarosz said.
'These data belong to the public,' Jarosz said. 'The taxpayers paid for the data and they should get the data unless they don't want it to be collected anymore.'
The Census Bureau asks the public survey questions in order to help Congress and federal agencies implement laws or develop policies, said Terri Ann Lowenthal, a former congressional staffer who consults on census issues.
'Just picking isolated questions doesn't make any point DOGE has intended to make, which is, I guess, that the Census Bureau isn't doing serious work or necessary work, which they are,' Lowenthal said. 'I think that tweet suggests the DOGE staff has very little knowledge about data collection and the set purpose of the Census Bureau's mission.'
The bigger concern is whether the Census Bureau is going to be ready for test run-throughs next year of the once-a-decade census, given federal government hiring freezes by the Trump administration and public silence from the bureau about the schedule, Lowenthal said.
Tests next year for the 2030 census are slated for six places: western Texas; tribal lands in Arizona; Colorado Springs, Colorado; western North Carolina; Spartanburg, South Carolina; and Huntsville, Alabama. The census is used to determine how many congressional seats each state gets and helps guide the distribution of $2.8 trillion in annual federal funding.
'The time lost in planning for a census can't be made up easily, if at all,' Lowenthal said. 'The timeline of a census is very tight. Each step builds upon what has been done previously.'
Researchers and users of federal data are grappling with broader concerns about the health of the U.S. statistical system, given disruptions to federal agencies by DOGE that have led to canceled contracts and the departures of longtime staffers with vast institutional knowledge, Georgetown professor Amy O'Hara, president of the Association of Public Data Users, said during a recent online forum.
For instance, the Census Bureau's roster of top leaders and their staff showed 18 vacancies as of the beginning of the month. The statistical agency's leader, Ron Jarmin, has been filling the job in an 'acting' capacity since Census Bureau director Rob Santos resigned earlier this year.
An Inspector General's report last March warned that the bureau has had difficulties hiring and retaining workers to carry out its surveys. Earlier this year, the Commerce Department, which oversees the Census Bureau, eliminated advisory committees made up of demographers, statisticians and advocacy group leaders who provided expertise to the statistical agency.
'There's a lot of anxiety. There's a lot of frustration because information is potentially threatened due to changes in agencies or changes in programs,' O'Hara said. 'There's just this fear that what you had relied on is not going to be available.'
___
Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky at @mikeysid.bsky.social.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
9 minutes ago
- Associated Press
EU readying 'countermeasures' if tariffs deal with US crumbles
BARCELONA (AP) — The European Union on Monday said it is preparing 'countermeasures' against the United States after the Trump administration's surprise tariffs on steel rattled global markets and complicated the ongoing wider tariff negotiations between Brussels and Washington. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed last week to 'accelerate talks' on a deal, but that if those trade negotiations fail 'then we are also prepared to accelerate our work on the defensive side,' European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill told a press conference in Brussels. 'In the event that our negotiations do not lead to a balanced outcome, the EU is prepared to impose countermeasures, including in response to this latest tariff increase,' Gill said. He said the EU is finalizing an 'expanded list of countermeasures' that would 'automatically take effect on July 14 or earlier.' That's the date when a 90-day pause, intended to ease negotiations, ends in tariffs announced by the two economic powerhouses on each other. About halfway through that grace period, Trump announced a 50% tariffs on steel imports. Trump's return to the White House has come with an unrivaled barrage of tariffs, with levies threatened, added and, often, taken away. Top officials at the EU's executive commission says they're pushing hard for a trade deal to avoid a 50% tariff on imported goods. The EU could possibly buy more liquefied natural gas and defense items from the U.S., as well as lower duties on cars, but it isn't likely to budge on calls to scrap the value added tax — which is akin to a sales tax — or open up the EU to American beef. The EU has offered the US a 'zero for zero' outcome in which tariffs would be removed on both sides industrial goods including autos. Trump has dismissed that but EU officials have said it's still on the table. The announcement Friday of a staggering 50% levy on steel imports stoked fear that big-ticket purchases from cars to washing machines to houses could see major price increases. But those metals are so ubiquitous in packaging, they're likely to pack a punch across consumer products from soup to nuts.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
US Dollar: This Week's Labor Data May Offer Support Despite Lingering Trade Fears
The US Dollar fell sharply below 99 amid rising geopolitical and trade tensions. Trump's tariff hike risks reigniting trade wars, raising doubts about the US-China trade truce. Key US economic data this week, especially Friday's nonfarm payrolls, will influence the dollar's path. Looking for actionable trade ideas to navigate the current market volatility? Subscribe here to unlock access to InvestingPro's AI-selected stock winners. The US Dollar started the week with a sharp drop, falling below the 99 level and testing last week's lows. Rising geopolitical tensions, stricter US trade policies, and a packed US economic data schedule have made investors more cautious. Although the dollar saw some small gains last week, it lost those gains quickly this week due to growing political and economic uncertainty. The pressure on the US Dollar is mainly due to President Donald Trump's announcement that tariffs on steel and aluminum imports will rise from 25% to 50% starting June 4. This decision has raised fears that trade wars could return, weakening investor confidence. The move also cast doubt on the temporary trade truce reached with China in Switzerland last month. Trump accused China of breaking the deal, but China strongly denied it. It is still unclear whether the two leaders will meet soon. Kevin Hassett, head of the US National Economic Council, said a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping could happen later this week. However, markets are treating this possibility with caution. Some analysts believe the US does not plan to remove tariffs completely, but the lack of clear direction is adding long-term uncertainty. The dollar index is also under pressure from concerns about slowing US growth. According to Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), the US economy may weaken by mid-next year, leading to expected interest rate cuts. The bank predicts the dollar index (DXY) could drop nearly 9% to around 91—a level last seen during the pandemic. The economic data scheduled for this week will be key to where the US dollar heads next. Today, markets will watch both the US ISM manufacturing PMI and manufacturing PMI data from the Eurozone. Speeches from Federal Reserve members will also be closely followed for any hints about future interest rate moves. On Wednesday, the ADP private sector employment report and the Fed's Beige Book will be released. On Thursday, the foreign trade balance and unemployment claims data will come out. The most important data point of the week will be the US nonfarm payrolls report on Friday. These reports could strongly influence the Fed's short-term policy decisions. Analysts expect job growth to slow, but the unemployment rate is likely to hold steady at 4.2%. If the data show the labor market remains strong, fears of a recession may ease, and the dollar could bounce back. On the other hand, weaker job numbers may add more pressure on the dollar. Tensions on the geopolitical front are adding to the pressure on the US dollar. Over the weekend, Ukraine carried out a large drone strike on Russian military sites, reportedly damaging nearly 40 bombers. This renewed conflict has pushed investors toward safer assets. How Russia will respond remains uncertain. Talks are expected to take place in Istanbul, but the latest attacks raise doubts about the success of any diplomatic progress. Meanwhile, markets are also watching the European Central Bank's meeting on Thursday. The ECB is expected to cut interest rates by 25 basis points. While this puts some pressure on the euro, the move may still support the euro against the dollar, given the political and economic uncertainty in the US. In short, the dollar index is currently weighed down by trade tensions and signs of economic weakness. Geopolitical risks, unclear Fed policy, and especially renewed friction between the US and China will shape its direction. Friday's nonfarm payrolls data will be one of the most important indicators this week. Although the US Dollar slowed its downward trend last week, the developments over the weekend put pressure on the index again. As the US Dollar lost its intermediate support at 99, it started to slide below the level where it has found support since April. The current trend may lead the US Dollar to test the 97.90 level once again this week. On a weekly close below this level, the index will return to the falling channel that originated in February. Thus, in the coming months, we may see that the downtrend may continue towards the 95 region and then towards the 92 level. However, the easing of trade tensions and the data releases this week that are supportive of the US economy may help the US Dollar to find support in the 98 region again. In upward moves, daily closes above 99.65 can be followed as a sign of recovery. Then, the index may be expected to move towards the 100-102 region. However, the current outlook suggests that the US Dollar may continue its downward trend rather than a recovery. *** Be sure to check out InvestingPro to stay in sync with the market trend and what it means for your trading. Whether you're a novice investor or a seasoned trader, leveraging InvestingPro can unlock a world of investment opportunities while minimizing risks amid the challenging market AI: AI-selected stock winners with a proven track record. InvestingPro Fair Value: Instantly find out if a stock is underpriced or overvalued. Advanced Stock Screener: Search for the best stocks based on hundreds of selected filters and criteria. Top Ideas: See what stocks billionaire investors such as Warren Buffett, Michael Burry, and George Soros are buying. This article is written for informational purposes only. It is not intended to encourage the purchase of assets in any way, nor does it constitute a solicitation, offer, recommendation or suggestion to invest. I would like to remind you that all assets are evaluated from multiple perspectives and are highly risky, so any investment decision and the associated risk rests with the investor. We also do not provide any investment advisory services. Related articles US Dollar: This Week's Labor Data May Offer Support Despite Lingering Trade Fears US Dollar: Downside Risks Rise Amid Downbeat Economic Data Ahead of PCE This Week EUR/USD: Upside Momentum Builds as Rate Cut Delay Sparks Weakness in US Dollar Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Newsweek
11 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Trump Admin Blames 'Administrative Errors' After ICE Deports Wrong Man
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump's administration deported a Salvadoran man minutes after a federal appeals court blocked his removal while his immigration case progressed. Jordin Melgar-Salmeron was deported to El Salvador on May 7 despite an order from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, New York, blocking it. The government has since denied that it violated the order, instead blaming the situation on a "confluence of administrative errors," according to a court filing last week. Newsweek has contacted the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for comment outside of typical working hours. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in Portland, Oregon, in 2018. Alex Milan Tracy/Sipa via AP Images Why It Matters The Trump administration is involved in a number of legal battles concerning migrants who say they were mistakenly deported from the U.S. under its direction. In March, more than 200 migrants suspected of being gang members were deported to El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act. Kilmar Abrego Garcia was one of migrants deported to the country's notorious CECOT prison, in what Trump administration lawyers later called an "administrative error." He has not been convicted of any crimes. What To Know In its filing last week, the government denied violating the appeals court's order, blaming the situation on a "a confluence of administrative errors." The government argued that because the deportation process had begun before the court issued its formal order at 9:52 a.m. on May 7, the ruling was not breached. According to the government's timeline, the plane transporting Melgar-Salmeron to El Salvador did not depart from Alexandria, Louisiana, until 10:20 a.m. ET. The government had previously provided the court with what the judges described as an "express assurance" that no deportation would be scheduled for him until the following day. In a filing submitted Wednesday in response to questions from a three-judge appellate panel, the government outlined a series of communication breakdowns between an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office in Buffalo, responsible for overseeing Melgar-Salmeron's legal case, and another office in Louisiana, where he was detained. According to an ICE official, administration lawyers emailed the Buffalo office at 10.08 a.m. on May 7, but the office did not register the court's order in ICE's internal system until 10.45 a.m., after the flight had already departed. On Thursday, Melgar-Salmeron's family informed his lawyer, Matthew Borowski, that he was being held at Izalco prison in El Salvador, a facility known for its harsh conditions, according to the Investigative Post. In March, a Human Rights Watch director stated that some detainees at Izalco prison face conditions that amount to torture. Melgar-Salmeron was appealing an order for his removal. He had prior affiliation with the MS-13 street gang and previously served two years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possession of an unregistered sawed-off shotgun. His lawyer noted that he had since disavowed MS-13 and now has a wife and four children in Virginia. What People Are Saying Attorney Matthew Borowski told The New York Times: "It would be an absurd level of mistake... Verifying the paperwork and putting the right people on the plane is their job." DHS said in court filings: "ERO Buffalo did not directly communicate to ERO New Orleans that the Government had made an assurance to this Court that ICE would forbear Petitioner's removal through May 8, 2025." What Happens Next The appellate judges have yet to reveal their intended course of action. Borowski indicated that he would soon submit a motion requesting the court to appoint a special master to evaluate whether any officials should be held in criminal contempt.
