WASHINGTON, March 2 — President Donald Trump has officially designated English as the United States’ national language, emphasizing its role in unifying a nation shaped by diverse immigration patterns.
In an executive order released today, the White House declared it was “long past time” for English to be formally recognized as the country’s official language.
“A common language is the foundation of a strong and cohesive society,” the order states. “The United States thrives when its citizens can freely communicate and exchange ideas in one shared language.”
The order reverses a policy from the 1990s, enacted under then-President Bill Clinton, which required federal agencies and federally funded institutions to provide language assistance for non-English speakers. However, the new directive does not impose a blanket ban on multilingual services. Instead, it allows agencies the discretion to determine the level of assistance needed based on their respective missions and responsibilities.
“Nothing in this order requires or directs changes to the services provided by any agency,” the document clarifies, affirming that agency heads retain the authority to decide how best to deliver government services effectively.
This latest move aligns with Trump’s broader agenda of reshaping national policies through a flurry of executive orders. However, many of his directives have faced legal challenges, particularly those seeking to cut federal funding previously approved by Congress.
The White House acknowledges the linguistic diversity of the United States, where more than 350 languages are spoken. Despite this, the order asserts that English has been the country’s primary language “since the founding of our Republic,” citing historical documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Government data from 2019 indicates that nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. Among them, more than 40 million are Spanish speakers, while other sizable linguistic communities include Chinese, Vietnamese, and numerous Native American languages.
The policy is expected to spark debate, with supporters praising it as a step toward national unity and critics arguing that it could hinder access to essential government services for millions of non-English speakers. — AFP
