Newly Unveiled Plans for the 2030 Census Test Suggest Trouble Ahead
Here are four big reasons why we’re worried—and why you should be too.
Area of Expertise
The U.S. Census and Public Data
A healthy democracy depends on strong, reliable public data.
Standing Up For Data
We safeguard access to public data, support data literacy, and turn information into insights that drive change.
Why It Matters
Public data guide representation, funding, and everyday policy. The decennial Census, the American Community Survey (ACS), and other key surveys determine how resources flow and whose needs are seen. Today these systems face real risks: undercounts of hard-to-reach populations, misinformation that erodes trust, political pressure that distorts methods, and funding cuts that threaten data collection and survey continuity. Without strong, reliable public data—and the ability to contextualize and interpret it fairly—communities lose fair representation, equitable funding, and the tools to plan for the future. That’s where PRB comes in.
How We Drive Change
We strengthen the nation’s data infrastructure by connecting producers and users. We provide tools, technical training, and analyses that make complex datasets clear and actionable, and we convene partners to defend scientific standards and transparency.
Our work includes:
- Building understanding of how census and survey data support fair representation, equitable funding, and effective community planning.
- Creating tools and platforms that make public data easier to use, from local government officials planning schools and hospitals to researchers answering tough public health questions to journalists holding governments accountable.
- Equipping advocates, educators, and policymakers with the training and context they need to interpret data accurately and responsibly and drive better policies.
- Promoting transparency and accountability in how data are collected, shared, and safeguarded.
Latest News & Insights
Cheap Facts, Big Returns: Why Federal Statistics Pay Dividends
A tiny budget powers trillions in economic decisions, but flat funding threatens data quality
Five Facts and Trends We're Watching in 2026
Care, the future of work and AI, and other themes we’re keeping an eye on in the new year
Five Things You Can Do to Protect Public Data
Even small actions, taken together, can help strengthen the case for the importance of public data to our shared future.
PRB Launches Federal Data Forum Amid Rising Threats to Public Data
New online community will foster connection and collaboration among federal data users across sectors and states
PRB statement on data access and integrity
If you’ve followed PRB for a while, you know that we’re committed champions of data. But why?
Latest Resources
7 Trends Reshaping the Health and Lifespans of America’s Rapidly Aging Population
Experts point to key dynamics challenging policymakers, health care planners, and families
New Data Reveal Appalachia’s Economic Improvements, Key Vulnerabilities Compared to the Rest of the U.S. Economy
Report from ARC and PRB finds decreased unemployment, increased labor force participation, and higher homeownership in Appalachia—but the Region still lags behind the U.S.
Collaborating for Action on the Future of Demographic and Health Surveys Meeting Report
This convening held on May 7-8, 2025, brought together key stakeholders—including leaders from National Statistical Offices, donor organizations, partner organizations, and data user groups—to identify opportunities and priorities for collaboration to protect current data and preserve ongoing data collection activities.
Webinar: Bridging Research and Policies: Enhancing Budgeting Processes for Africa's Demographic Dividend
PRB hosted a high-level webinar with budget experts, parliamentarians, and national directors to discuss the importance of the Demographic Dividend Sensitive Budgeting approach in enhancing budgeting processes across Africa.
KIDS COUNT Data Resource Guide
This guide includes an overview of each major data source, including what data are available, how to access that data, and some best practices for using each source.
Convening Report: Centering Locally-Driven Family Planning Measurement Priorities in the Global Agenda
In June 2024, the MOMENTUM Knowledge Accelerator Project, FP2030, and the William H. Gates Sr.
Projects
We convene researchers, advocates, and policymakers to safeguard America’s statistical infrastructure and support open, inclusive data. The Federal Data Forum builds cross-sector collaboration to identify risks early and keep federal data strong, trusted, representative, and ready to guide decisions. Launched in 2025, the forum has convened over 500 members representing government, academia, and civil society in its inaugural year.
We create handbooks, videos, and other user-friendly resources that help diverse groups—from journalists to business leaders to local and state governments—interpret and apply data from the American Community Survey and the decennial U.S. Census. These tools help advocates and decisionmakers identify problems in their communities—and develop targeted solutions.
Our interactive maps spotlight counties at high risk of undercounting young children, and reports assess the consequences of undercounts for underrepresented groups and individual states. Local governments, philanthropies, and community groups use these insights to target outreach, boost participation, and protect fair representation and resources.
When threats emerge, PRB mobilizes quickly. With partners such as the Association of Public Data Users and DataIndex.US, we convene timely roundtable briefings to coordinate action and protect surveys like the American Time Use Survey and Medicare data, so debates about work, health, and family are grounded in evidence.