**GAO-10-567T**                      Published: Mar 25, 2010. Publicly Released: Mar 25, 2010.                  

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## Highlights

In March 2008, GAO designated the 2010 Census a high-risk area in part because of information technology (IT) shortcomings and uncertainty over the ultimate cost of the census, now estimated at around $15 billion. The U.S. Census Bureau (Bureau) has since made improvements to various IT systems and taken other steps to mitigate the risks to a successful census. However, last year, GAO noted that a number of challenges and uncertainties remained, and much work remained to be completed under very tight time frames. As requested, this testimony provides an update on the Bureau's readiness for an effective headcount, covering (1) the reliability of key IT systems; (2) a broad range of activities critical to an effective headcount, some of which were problematic in either earlier 2010 operations or in the 2000 Census, and (3) the quality of the Bureau's cost estimates. The testimony is based on previously issued and ongoing GAO work.

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## Topics

Information Management

CensusCost analysisData collectionFingerprintsInformation technologyPopulation statisticsRisk factorsSchedule slippagesStaff utilizationSurveysSystems analysisSystems testingTemporary employmentCost estimates