or the first time in U.S. history, English has been designated as the official national language, following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on Saturday.
The move marks a significant shift in federal language policy, overturning previous mandates requiring government agencies to provide multilingual support.
What the Executive Order Does
As stated on the official White House website, the executive order not only declares English as the country’s official language but also rescinds a 2000 directive issued by former President Bill Clinton that required federal agencies and recipients of government funding to offer language assistance services to non-English speakers.
Under the new policy, federal agencies can now choose whether to continue providing multilingual materials and services, instead of being mandated to do so.
The order also emphasizes the importance of English proficiency among immigrants, stating that learning the language “not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society.”
A statement from the White House framed the decision as a recognition of the “long tradition of multilingual American citizens who have learned English and passed it to their children for generations to come”.
The Impact of an Official Language
Per The Washington Post, the designation of an official language primarily affects how the government conducts its day-to-day operations, according to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
The institute notes that establishing an official language can “define the character of the state and the cultural identity of the people within it” but also warns that it may lead to the exclusion of those who do not speak the language fluently.
Currently, more than 30 states have laws recognizing English as their official language — including California, Alabama, Florida, Colorado, and Tennessee. Hawaii has two official languages — English and Hawaiian — while Alaska recognizes 21 languages, including English and several Indigenous languages.
Trump’s Justification for the Order
The Trump administration argues that the new language policy will promote national unity and increase government efficiency.
“Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society,” the executive order states.
The White House has long linked the issue of an official language to immigration, noting that more than 350 languages are spoken across the US.
Trump has criticized the use of foreign languages in public discourse in the past, including during the 2016 presidential race, when he took aim at then-rival Jeb Bush for speaking Spanish while campaigning.
“This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish,” Trump said at the time.
Shortly after taking office in 2017, Trump also removed the Spanish-language version of the official White House website – a move seen as signaling a shift away from multilingual government communications. The same move was taken upon Trump taking office back in January.
Despite this, Republican political strategists have continued to invest in Spanish-language outreach, recognizing its importance for reaching Latino voters. Trump himself ran Spanish-language ads during both the 2020 and 2024 election campaigns.
Backlash from Immigrant and Advocacy Groups
The executive order has sparked criticism from immigration and civil rights organizations, who argue that it could lead to discrimination and the loss of crucial services for non-English speakers.
Anabel Mendoza, communications director for United We Dream, an immigration advocacy group, condemned the move, saying it targets immigrants and minority communities.
“Trump will try to use this executive order as a crutch to attack schools providing curriculum to immigrant students in other languages, gut programs and roles that help to promote inclusive language access, and embolden immigration agents to single out and harass individuals who speak a certain way,” Mendoza said in a statement, per The Washington Post.
How Many People Speak English in the US?
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), 78.3 percent of Americans aged five and older speak only English at home.
However, nearly 68 million people in the country speak a language other than English at home, with the most common languages including:
- Spanish
- Chinese
- Tagalog
- Vietnamese
- Arabic
Despite the prevalence of multilingual households, the ACS found that only 8.4 percent of Americans reported speaking English “less than very well.”
English proficiency varies by language group. The ACS reported that:
- 52 percent of those who spoke Chinese at home said they spoke English “less than very well.”
- 39 percent of Spanish speakers and 30 percent of Tagalog speakers reported similar challenges.
Experts suggest these numbers reflect recent increases in immigration from Asia, with some newcomers still in the process of learning English.
Criticism from Lawmakers
Several Democratic lawmakers have spoken out against the executive order, warning that it could undermine bilingual education and global competitiveness.
Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), who will deliver the Spanish-language response to Trump’s upcoming address to Congress, said the policy could hurt younger generations by discouraging multilingual proficiency.
“It’s mind-boggling if the intent is to suppress the ability of our young people to be proficient in other languages,” Espaillat said at a press conference. “I think that that doesn’t make us competitive as a country.”
Official Language Policies Around the World
The United States has historically never had an official language, despite English being the dominant language. Globally, more than 170 countries have one or more official languages, according to the Associated Press.
Some examples include:
- The United Kingdom, where English originated, has no official language.
- Mexico’s constitution does not designate Spanish as an official language, despite it being the most widely spoken language in the country.
- Canada officially recognizes both English and French, ensuring equal status and rights for speakers of both languages.
Impact on Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories
The White House has not clarified how the executive order will affect U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico, where Spanish and English are both official languages and most government affairs are conducted in Spanish.
Rep. Pablo José Hernández, Puerto Rico’s nonvoting representative in Congress, criticized the move, saying it conflicts with Puerto Rican identity.
“There will be no statehood without assimilation, and Puerto Ricans will never surrender our identity,” Hernández said in a statement on X. “For those of us who seek a union with the U.S. without assimilation, and U.S. citizenship with more autonomy, there is only one alternative: maintaining and strengthening the current Commonwealth relationship.”
What Happens Next?
With the executive order now in place, federal agencies will have to determine whether they will continue offering multilingual services or scale them back.
As debates continue over whether the policy will promote national unity or alienate non-English speakers, the order is expected to face legal challenges from civil rights groups in the coming months.
