President Donald Trump has signed an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States, stating that it is “long past time” for such a designation. The order revokes a mandate from the 1990s under then-President Bill Clinton, which required federal agencies and federally funded organizations to provide assistance to non-English speakers.
“A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,” the order states.
While the new directive removes the previous requirement, it does not prohibit agencies from offering multilingual services. It grants agency heads the authority to determine how much language assistance is necessary for fulfilling their missions and serving the public efficiently.
The decision comes amid a series of executive actions from Trump aimed at reshaping government policies, many of which have faced legal challenges. Critics argue that revoking language assistance could create barriers for millions of Americans who do not speak English fluently.
According to U.S. government data from 2019, nearly 68 million people speak a language other than English at home, with more than 40 million speaking Spanish. The linguistic diversity of the country also includes significant populations of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Native American language speakers.
The executive order acknowledges this diversity but asserts that English has been the primary language of governance in the United States since its founding, as reflected in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
As the order takes effect, it remains to be seen how federal agencies will adjust their language services and whether the policy will face legal or political challenges.
