Census Bureau and Bureau of Economic Analysis Request Comments on Data Collection Security

The U.S. Census Bureau and US Bureau of Economic Analysis have released a request for comments related to the collection of data from the public “to fulfill their data security requirements when providing access to restricted use microdata related to evidence building.” As part of the agencies’ ongoing implementation of the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (or Evidence Act), the White House of Office Management and Budget (OMB) established a Standard Application Process (SAP) for researchers to use when requesting access to confidential government data assets. The request for comment related data security requirements seek to understand if the proposed collection of information is necessary, the accuracy of the estimate of the burden and ways to reduce it, and ways to enhance the quality and use of the information. Comments are due by January 9, 2023.