On Saturday, President Donald Trump officially announced English as the United States’ official language, aiming to unify a nation noted for its vast immigration diversity. The executive order, released by the White House, emphasizes that it’s “long overdue” for English to be recognized as the country’s official tongue. “An officially designated language lies at the heart of a unified society, strengthening our country by enabling citizens to share ideas in one language,” the order asserts.
The order dismantles a previous policy from the 1990s, introduced during Bill Clinton’s presidency, which mandated federal entities and those receiving federal aid to offer assistance to non-English-speaking individuals. Nevertheless, the new directive allows agencies the discretion to determine the extent of language assistance. “This order… does not require changes in current services by any agency,” it clarifies, granting agency leaders the authority to decide what’s essential to fulfill their missions and efficiently serve the public.
In his early tenure, Trump has issued numerous executive orders to reshape the nation’s governance, yet several face judicial challenges, particularly those affecting congressional funding. Despite recognizing that over 350 languages are spoken across the U.S., the order highlights English’s foundational role in the nation’s history, being the language in which key documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were drafted.
Though English predominates, the U.S. Census Bureaus data from 2019 reveals close to 68 million residents use another language at home, with over 40 million speaking Spanish. The nation’s rich tapestry of languages spans beyond just immigrant communities, featuring numerous Native American dialects.