The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has announced on X, a social media platform, that it is collaborating with the U.S. Census Bureau to review its surveys and evaluate each one for potential termination.
According to DOGE's post, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts 102 surveys at a cost of $2.2 billion, many of which are deemed outdated. The agency said that the results were not used to inform action or reviewed.
DOGE and the Census Bureau have already reviewed all 102 additional surveys and have terminated five so far. These five surveys included 493 pages of questions and cost a total of $16.5 million. Sample questions from these surveys included inquiries about alcohol consumption and internet usage.
DOGE announcement on X
| https://x.com/DOGE/status/1924888248008245742
Ron S. Jarmin, acting director of the U.S. Census Bureau, also serves as deputy director and chief operating officer. He oversees strategic planning and daily operations at the nation's largest statistical agency. Since joining in 1992, Jarmin has led modernization initiatives such as internet-based data collection for the 2020 Census and advocated for using non-survey data to enhance economic indicators.
According to an April 2025 Harvard-Harris Poll, 69% of voters support "undertaking a full-scale effort to find and eliminate fraud and waste in government expenditures," compared to 31% who favor slashing $1 trillion in government spending. Additionally, a majority believe the U.S. should work toward balancing its budget by reducing government expenditures and conducting a comprehensive review of current spending.
DOGE is described as a federal agency focused on optimizing government spending, reducing waste, and ensuring accountability in contract management on X. By reviewing expenditures and canceling non-essential contracts, DOGE aims to improve fiscal responsibility and enhance public resource allocation effectiveness.
