Census Bureau Director John H. Thompson has announced his resignation from the agency according to a statement from the Department of Commerce.
According to the Washington Post, the announcement comes at an awkward time for the agency and took Census experts by surprise.
The decennial census typically requires increased spending in the three years leading up to it, but Congress approved a smaller budget for the agency in the current fiscal year than it had last year. Critics added that the White House’s fiscal year 2018 budget request further adds to the agency’s financial struggles.
Thompson had been in his position since August 2013. He said in a statement, “My tenure at the Census Bureau has been a richly rewarding capstone to my federal career. As I pursue opportunities in the private sector, please be assured that I will continue to be supportive of the Administration’s priority to have a complete and accurate 2020 Census.”
Thompson’s last day at the agency will be June 30th.