Sawyer Sutton
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday that establishes English as the official language of the United States.
This order revokes a policy enacted by former President Bill Clinton, which mandated that federal agencies and organizations receiving government funding provide language assistance to individuals who do not speak English. Nevertheless, these agencies retain the option to offer such services on a voluntary basis.
The order articulates that “a nationally designated language is fundamental to a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is fortified by a populace that can engage in the exchange of ideas in a common language.” It further asserts that designating English as the official language will “not only enhance communication but also strengthen shared national values, fostering a more cohesive and efficient society.”
The recent action is consistent with a longstanding commitment made by Trump and mirrors the endeavors of legislators who have sought to enact similar laws for many years. Over 30 states have already designated English as their official language.
Data from the 2022 US Census indicates that the number of individuals speaking languages other than English has increased more than threefold since 1980, with approximately one in ten Americans now using a different language at home.
Opponents of the policy contend that it will negatively impact immigrant communities. Roman Palomares, the chairman of the League of United Latin American Citizens, criticized the directive, asserting: “Our Founding Fathers enshrined freedom of speech in the First Amendment without limiting it to one language. They envisioned a nation where diversity of thought, culture, and expression would be its greatest strength. Declaring English as the only official language directly contradicts that vision,” as reported by NPR.
Trump’s position on language policy has remained unchanged. In his initial term, his administration eliminated the Spanish-language version of the White House website, a feature that was subsequently reinstated by former President Joe Biden. After Trump’s re-election, the Spanish-language site was once again removed, and there has been no indication regarding its potential reinstatement.
