U.S. Census Bureau Proposes Revisions to American Community Survey and Expansion of Administrative Data Use

The United States Census Bureau initiated a formal review of the American Community Survey and the Puerto Rico Community Survey, publishing a notice in the Federal Register in November 2026. The agency invited public comment on proposed questionnaire modifications and an expanded strategy for incorporating administrative records. The development stems from ongoing efforts to balance the high demand for current demographic data with the statutory obligation to minimize reporting burdens on the American public under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments on the proposed changes are scheduled to be accepted through January 4, 2027.

Background and Legal Framework

The American Community Survey functions as an ongoing demographic data collection program that replaced the decennial census long form. Established to provide continuous social, economic, housing, and demographic statistics, the survey gathers information on over forty topics from millions of addresses and group quarters annually. Federal law mandates that every question on the survey must satisfy an explicit federal requirement. The Census Bureau categorizes these federal uses into mandatory, required, programmatic, or operational classifications. Only questions meeting mandatory, required, or operational standards are authorized to remain on the survey instrument.

Content Review and Proposed Deletions

In 2026, the Census Bureau executed a comprehensive content review involving over sixty federal agencies, evaluating more than four hundred federal data uses. The evaluation revealed that two existing inquiries no longer possessed a mandatory or required federal justification. Consequently, the agency proposed the removal of questions regarding solar panels and the veterans period of military service. These proposed deletions are slated for implementation as early as 2028, pending final review and public feedback.

Expansion of Administrative Data

In accordance with Title 13 of the United States Code, which directs the agency to utilize existing government information to the maximum extent feasible, the Census Bureau intends to broaden its use of administrative records. Building upon an adaptive data collection approach implemented in 2024 for property lot size using third-party property tax records, the agency plans to skip specific housing questions when reliable administrative data are available. Questions slated for potential administrative substitution include agricultural sales, year built, number of rooms, number of bedrooms, units in structure, building type, and home heating fuel.

Forward-Looking Conclusion

The publication of the notice initiates a sixty-day public comment window allowing individuals, state and local governments, academic institutions, and federal agencies to submit feedback on the proposed questionnaire revisions and the broader use of administrative records. Principal federal data users also retain the opportunity to provide supplementary justifications for the questions slated for removal. As the Census Bureau processes the public comments and refines its methodology, the outcomes will influence the operational framework of the American Community Survey leading up to 2028 and beyond.