Getting the U.S. Census Bureau on track, after years of disarray under the Bush administration, has become mission critical.

That urgency was underscored in a recent report from the Government Accountability Office outlining the top 13 issues requiring President-elect Obama's immediate attention. The upcoming 2010 Census made the list — alongside issues such as financial regulation, Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan.

Fixing the mess at the Census Bureau won't be easy. During the past eight years the agency has gone through three different directors, three different deputy directors and three different decennial count directors. It's no wonder census funding, planning and preparation have been so drastically hampered.

This instability and systemic failure is unconscionable. The population count, mandated by the U.S. Constitution, provides vital data used for a variety of programs and funding schedules — billions of dollars in federal funding for a wide range of programs hinge on the count.

The census provides rich, indispensable data, including income, household size, age and more. It reveals the constitution, complexities and needs of communities down to the block level.

State and local governments rely heavily on census data as well, as do a variety of nonprofits seeking federal grants.

An accurate count is crucial. The Bureau has been plagued with complaints and legal challenges citing drastic undercounts of huge population segments — namely minorities, immigrants and the poor.

The census also has major political significance. A more accurate tally of undercounted communities, for example, can reshape electoral maps — redrawing political districts and altering the number of representatives in each district.

With incoming Secretary of Commerce Bill Richardson ready to roll after what promises to be a smooth confirmation, fixing the problems at the Census Bureau must be a key priority. The clock is ticking.