Decennial Census
Focused Action Needed Soon to Achieve Fundamental Breakthroughs Gao ID: T-GGD-93-32 May 27, 1993Since GAO's testimony last March on planning for the year 2000 census, the Census Bureau has altered its decision-making approach and has tried to refocus its research and development efforts. It has scrapped all 14 design alternatives that were under study for more than a year and is now concentrating on integrating promising features into a new design for possible application in the 2000 census. The Bureau must now intensively research and refine the design features that appear most promising. This testimony discusses (1) the development and use of criteria for determining what to test in 1995; (2) Bureau progress in analyzing data needs and possible content of the 2000 census; and (3) the adequacy of the recently submitted fiscal year 1994 budget request as it relates to 2000 census preparation.