After Trump Makes English Official Language Of U.S., Clinton Law Mandating Language Assistance To Non-English Speakers Is Rescinded

President Donald Trump signed an executive order last week making English the official language of the United States. The move rescinds a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.

According to the official executive action from the White House, designating Engish as the national language “promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement.” The White House’s official website says, “Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”

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It also celebrates the “long tradition of multilingual American citizens who have learned English and passed it to their children for generations to come.”

According to a fact sheet, the order will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English. Agencies will still be able to provide such services, but this order removes the requirement to do so.

According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, the government can use a national language to conduct official, day-to-day business. However, many languages a country designates as official defines the cultural identity of the nation’s people. 

The census found that 350 languages are spoken in homes across America, but 78 percent of the country speaks only English at home. ProEnglish.org reports that more than 30 US states have designated English as the official language, while Alaska and Hawaii have also given official status to several native languages.

Lawmakers in Congress have many times introduced legislation to designate English as the official language, but that failed. Among them is now Vice President JD Vance, who represented Ohio in the Senate, alongside Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), who introduced the English Language Unity Act in 2023.