The Insights Association joined other stakeholders in expressing “concerns and disappointment” about the final design of the 2026 Census Test.
The Census Bureau shared more detailed plans for the test on March 23, 2026.
According to a March 26 letter from IA and six other groups, stakeholder comments on these plans were effectively ignored: “In response to the 30-day comment period, which closed on March 5, the Department of Commerce and Census Bureau received 336 extensive, well-constructed comments from individuals, government officials, and organizations expressing concerns about the potential operational and cost implications of the agency’s proposed changes to the 2026 Census Test. These changes included, among other things, eliminating four of the six original sites, fielding the American Community Survey rather than the decennial census questionnaire, and proposing the use of postal carriers as enumerators. While comments from individuals and organizations may have focused on different facets of the proposed changes, the responses, overall, expressed concern about the exclusion of the only sites covering rural, remote regions and key group quarters populations, specifically the only military installation and prison in the initial test design.”
“Based on the final details released on March 23, it is apparent that our comments were not considered nor used to inform any changes to the 2026 Census Test and the design continues to suffer from the same infirmities as were elucidated in these comments. Should the 2026 Census Test proceed as currently planned, it will not produce scientifically valid results that can inform improvements to the operations of the 2030 Census and towards achieving the Census Bureau’s mandate of counting every person.”
The letter urged Congress to get involved to push revisions to the 2026 Census Test plans.
Howard Fienberg, Senior VP Advocacy at the Insights Association, further commented that, “The 2026 Census Test, an essential piece of preparation for the 2030 Census that was supposed to test multiple means, modes and methods, has been reduced and neutered into a simple waste of taxpayer money.”
About the Author
Based in Washington, DC, Howard is the Insights Association's lobbyist for the marketing research and data analytics industry, focusing primarily on consumer privacy and data security, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), tort reform, and the funding and integrity of the decennial Census and the American Community Survey (ACS).
Howard has more than two decades of public policy experience. Before the Insights Association, he worked in Congress as senior legislative staffer for then-Representatives Christopher Cox (CA-48) and Cliff Stearns (FL-06). He also served more than four years with a science policy think tank, working to improve the understanding of scientific and social research and methodology among journalists and policymakers.
Howard is also co-director of The Census Project, a 900+ member coalition in support of a fair and accurate Census and ACS.
He has also served previously on the Board of Directors for the National Institute for Lobbying and Ethics and and the Association of Government Relations Professionals.
Howard has an MA International Relations from the University of Essex in England and a BA Honors Political Studies from Trent University in Canada, and has obtained the Certified Association Executive (CAE), Professional Lobbying Certificate (PLC) and the Public Policy Certificate (PPC).
When not running advocacy for the Insights Association, Howard enjoys hockey, NFL football, sci-fi and horror movies, playing with his dog, and spending time with family and friends.