President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday establishing English as the official language of the United States.
The order overturns a directive issued in 2000 by a previous administration that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance for individuals with limited English proficiency.
However, Trump’s order clarifies that it does not mandate any immediate changes to services provided by federal agencies. Instead, it leaves decisions on potential adjustments to the discretion of agency leaders.
While English has long been used as the primary language of governance—appearing in the nation’s founding documents—the U.S. has never formally designated an official language.
“A nationally recognized language is essential to fostering a unified and cohesive society, and the strength of the United States comes from its citizens’ ability to freely exchange ideas in a common language,” Trump stated in the order.
The U.S. is among the few countries worldwide without an official language, as nearly 180 of the 195 nations globally have made such a designation. Trump has been a strong advocate for establishing English as the country’s official language, particularly in 2024, when he criticized previous immigration policies.
“We have languages coming into our country that no one here speaks,” Trump said during a 2024 speech at a political conference. “It’s the craziest thing—you have languages that no one in this country has ever heard of. It’s a very troubling issue.”
According to the order, the policy aims to “promote unity,” “foster a shared American culture,” and ensure consistency in government operations while encouraging civic participation.
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