As part of its effort to foster national cohesion in a country shaped by immigration,President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on making English the official language of the United States.
The order released by the White House states that it is “long past time” for English to be formally recognized as the nation’s official language. The document asserts that a common language is fundamental to a unified society and strengthens the ability of citizens to communicate and exchange ideas effectively.
The order also rescinds a mandate from the 1990s, introduced under President Bill Clinton, which required federal agencies and federally funded organizations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. However, it clarifies that agencies will retain discretion over how much support they offer in other languages.
“Nothing in this order… requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency,” the document states, noting that agency heads will have the authority to determine how best to fulfill their missions while efficiently serving the American public.
Since taking office, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at reshaping government policy, many of which have faced legal challenges—particularly those affecting federal funding allocated by Congress.
The White House acknowledged the linguistic diversity of the U.S., where over 350 languages are spoken. However, the order emphasizes that English has been the country’s language “since the founding of our Republic” and that key historical documents, including the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, were written in English.
According to government data from 2019, nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home, with over 40 million speaking Spanish. The country’s linguistic landscape also includes significant populations of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Native American language speakers.
