Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday declaring English as the official language of the United States, the White House confirmed.
The order will give government agencies and federally funded organizations the choice to discontinue providing documents and services in languages other than English. It also rescinds a directive from former President Bill Clinton that required federal agencies and organizations receiving government funding to offer language assistance for non-English speakers.
The White House stated that making English the official language “promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement.” Over 30 states have already passed similar laws, according to U.S. English, a group that has long advocated for the change at the national level.
For decades, lawmakers have introduced legislation to designate English as the country’s official language, but those efforts have repeatedly stalled in Congress. Trump’s executive action bypasses legislative hurdles to implement the policy at the federal level.
The move follows previous actions taken by Trump regarding language access. Within hours of his first inauguration in 2017, his administration removed the Spanish-language version of the White House website, a change that remained in place until President Joe Biden restored it. Trump’s White House had initially stated plans to bring it back, but never followed through.
The White House has not indicated whether the Spanish-language website will be affected by the new executive order.
