Elon Musk-Backed DOGE Terminates $16.5M Census Bureau Surveys, Sparking U.S. Data Infrastructure Concerns

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is aggressively targeting federal data systems, including plans to overhaul the IRS with a centralized 'mega API' to modernize its outdated infrastructure, an initiative led by close associates from Musk's network. Concurrently, DOGE has terminated five U.S. Census Bureau surveys costing $16.5 million and is reviewing others, actions that have alarmed data users and experts who warn that such abrupt changes may violate legal procedures requiring public notice and comment. The canceled surveys reportedly included topics like alcohol consumption and internet usage, and may have encompassed key data collections such as the Survey of Inmates in Local Jails and the Ask U.S. Panel. Critics emphasize that these data are publicly funded and essential for policymaking, urging transparency and caution to protect the integrity of the nation's statistical infrastructure. The moves reflect DOGE's broader agenda to cut federal spending and reform government data collection but have sparked concerns about centralizing control and undermining critical data resources. Census experts also note that isolated terminations may misrepresent the importance and scope of the Census Bureau's work.