IHEP and 100+ Organizations Urge Commerce Department to End Indefinite Delay of ACS Data Release

Washington, DC (September 4, 2026) – IHEP joined more than 100 national, state, and local organizations in signing a letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick expressing concern over the indefinite delay of the 2025 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, announced by the Census Bureau on August 4, 2026. The letter was organized by The Census Project, a coalition of over 800 organizations that rely on reliable census data. Signatories note that the delay stems directly from a June 2026 Commerce Department order, “Disclosure Avoidance for Statistical Products” (DAO 216-26), which bars the Census Bureau from using “noise infusion,” a modern privacy-protection method used for years to safeguard confidential data, forcing the Bureau to rework its approach to data privacy. The letter warns that continued delay threatens the ability of communities, service providers, policymakers, and businesses to assess public needs, allocate resources, and make informed decisions, and urges the Department of Commerce to work with the Census Bureau to resolve the issues and release the 1-year ACS estimates on schedule.

Read the full letter.