President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday designating English as the official language of the United States, a move the White House says will promote national unity and streamline government operations.
The order will reverse a decades-old mandate and shift language policy for federal agencies and organizations receiving federal funds.
According to a White House fact sheet, the executive action will rescind a 2000 directive from former President Bill Clinton that required government entities and federally funded organizations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
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Under the new order, these groups will have the discretion to decide whether to offer documents and services in languages other than English, though no specific timeline for implementation was provided.
The White House framed the decision as a step toward efficiency and civic engagement. “Designating English as the national language promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement,” the statement read.
It did not specify when Trump would sign the order on Friday, and administration officials did not immediately respond to inquiries for further details.
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The move aligns with efforts by more than 30 states that have already enacted laws naming English as their official language, according to U.S. English, an advocacy group that has long pushed for such a designation nationwide. In Congress, similar bills have been introduced repeatedly over the years but have failed to gain enough traction to become law.
Trump’s action comes amid broader policy shifts since his inauguration last month. Within hours of taking office, his administration removed the Spanish-language version of the White House website, a decision that drew criticism from Hispanic advocacy groups and others.
At the time, officials pledged to restore the site, which had been reinstated under President Joe Biden after Trump shuttered it during his first term. As of Friday, the Spanish version remained offline, and the White House offered no update on its status.
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The executive order has sparked varied reactions. Supporters argue it will reduce costs and encourage assimilation, echoing Trump’s campaign emphasis on national identity.
Critics, however, warn it could limit access to essential services for millions of non-English-speaking residents, particularly in emergencies or when navigating government programs. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that over 67 million people—about 20% of the population—speak a language other than English at home, with Spanish being the most common.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the impending order, marking it as part of a flurry of executive actions from Trump aimed at reshaping federal policy. Alongside this, he has moved to assert greater control over independent regulators and tighten immigration rules, drawing legal challenges from groups like the ACLU over border policies.
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