Santos to Lead U.S. Census Bureau

The U.S. Senate has confirmed veteran survey statistician Robert Santos as Director of the Census Bureau. Santos is the choice of President Joe Biden and was also endorsed by trade body The Insights Association (IA).

Santos (pictured) joins from the Urban Institute where he was VP and Chief Methodologist; and has previously held senior roles at the University of Michigan Survey Research Center and at NORC. He is current President of the American Statistical Association, and a past President of AAPOR and the Washington Statistical Society.

IA's Senior VP Advocacy Howard Fienberg comments: ' The insights industry looks forward to working with Robert Santos and the Census Bureau at this important time of transition'. He adds: 'while the Bureau is still working on 2020 Census data products, we're already advocating to bolster the ongoing American Community Survey (ACS) and prepare for the 2030 Census. The resulting data underpins every statistically-representative study in America'.

The Senate took a vote on the appointment after a request for a unanimous confirmation was rejected by Senator Rick Scott (R-FL). Scott expressed concern that 'this nominee will politicize the Census Bureau and will not perform his duties in a fair and unbiased fashion, which this position demands'. By contrast, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer said Santos was 'exactly the kind of person our country needs overseeing our Census: impartial, highly experienced, and someone from outside politics'; and the nomination was passed by a substantial majority, 58 to 35.

At the end of 2018, an industry group including the IA - as well as AAPOR, the American Statistical Association and Nielsen - urged the Senate to confirm the appointment of Trump nominee Dr Steven Dillingham's as the Bureau's Director. Dillingham, previously Director of the Office of Strategic Information, Research and Planning for the US Peace Corps, was elected shortly after by unanimous vote.

Web site: www.census.gov .