Census Bureau Realignment Did Not Fully Meet Stated Goals and Reimbursable Agreements Are Not Managed Adequately

Our audit of the Census Bureau’s regional office alignment and field management reforms included two objectives: (1) identify and assess the benchmarks—including the manner in which response rates are calculated and reported on surveys such as the American Community Survey—that the Bureau is using to assess the success of the realignment effort and assess whether or not the Bureau is achieving its cost savings and efficiency goals; and (2) assess the impact of the realignment on survey sponsors and customers and determine whether external sponsoring agencies and internal Census Bureau offices are satisfied with the survey content and design process, survey administration, data quality, cost, and any other issues deemed important.