Experts warn 2026 census test has been scaled back and poses operational risks for 2030
Witnesses said the 2026 census test was pared down from a broad set of target sites to only two suburban locations and that the primary remaining experiment tests using postal workers as enumerators—raising concerns about coverage of hard‑to‑count and tribal communities and about Title 13 compliance.
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Beth Jarris and Amy O'Hara told the committee that the 2026 census test, intended to experiment with procedures leading to the 2030 census, was narrowed in recent weeks. They said most planned test sites—including communities with large tribal populations, seasonally vacant housing and other hard‑to‑count features—were removed and only two locations remain under the current plan.
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