1990 Census:
Overview of Key Issues
GGD-89-77BR: Published: Jul 3, 1989. Publicly Released: Jul 3, 1989.
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Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO presented an overview of the 1990 decennial census, focusing on the: (1) issues that hinge on the outcome of the census; (2) mechanics of the census; and (3) issues facing census management, including controlling census costs and hiring and retaining a sufficient number of temporary employees to timely and accurately complete the census.
GAO found that: (1) between 1950 and 1980, states in the Northeast and Midwest lost 36 seats in the House of Representatives to Western and Southern states; (2) the Bureau of the Census provided data to states on the smallest geographic areas applicable to determine congressional and state legislative districts; (3) federal agencies used census data to distribute more than $115 billion for grants-in-aid programs to state and local governments in 1988; (4) to obtain census housing and population information, the Bureau counted all living quarters, then used questionnaires either delivered through the mail or by a census worker to count the people; (5) although the Bureau hopes to complete much of the census by mail, it will enhance the count's completeness with census workers to follow up on households that do not mail back questionnaires; (6) since the 1980 census, the Bureau has made a number of improvements, including computerized map production and data files that locate street addresses and political boundaries; (7) the cost of conducting the census continues to rise, from $1.1 billion in 1980 to an estimated $2.6 billion in 1990; (8) the Bureau will need to screen about 1.6 million applicants to employ the approximately 315,000 temporary employees needed; and (9) the Bureau was considering a plan to reflect geographical differences in its pay scale, since low unemployment rates in some areas and its relatively low pay adversely affected its ability to attract and compete for needed temporary employees.
Jan 13, 2021
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Department of Energy Contracting:
Improvements Needed to Ensure DOE Assesses Its Full Range of Contracting Fraud RisksGAO-21-44: Published: Jan 13, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 13, 2021.
Dec 16, 2020
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Data Governance:
Agencies Made Progress in Establishing Governance, but Need to Address Key MilestonesGAO-21-152: Published: Dec 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 16, 2020.
Dec 9, 2020
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2020 Census:
The Bureau Concluded Field Work but Uncertainty about Data Quality, Accuracy, and Protection RemainsGAO-21-206R: Published: Dec 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 9, 2020.
Dec 3, 2020
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2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Assess Data Quality Concerns Stemming from Recent Design ChangesGAO-21-142: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020. -
2020 Census:
Census Bureau Needs to Ensure Transparency over Data QualityGAO-21-262T: Published: Dec 3, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 3, 2020.
Nov 30, 2020
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Federal Buying Power:
OMB Can Further Advance Category Management Initiative by Focusing on Requirements, Data, and TrainingGAO-21-40: Published: Nov 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 30, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Disaster Response:
Agencies Should Assess Contracting Workforce Needs and Purchase Card Fraud RiskGAO-21-42: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 23, 2020
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Federal Contracting:
Actions Needed to Improve Department of Labor's Enforcement of Service Worker Wage ProtectionsGAO-21-11: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 23, 2020.
Nov 18, 2020
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Federal Telework:
Key Practices That Can Help Ensure the Success of Telework ProgramsGAO-21-238T: Published: Nov 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 18, 2020.
Oct 7, 2020
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Unaccompanied Children:
Actions Needed to Improve Grant Application Reviews and Oversight of Care FacilitiesGAO-20-609: Published: Sep 15, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 7, 2020.
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