President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, a move that could have significant implications for federal agencies and organisations receiving government funding.
The directive, signed on Saturday, allows these bodies to choose whether to continue offering services and documents in languages other than English.
This marks a shift from the previous mandate under former President Bill Clinton, which required government agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
The executive order, according to the White House, aims to streamline communication and reinforce national unity. It argues that establishing English as the official language will foster a more cohesive society, aligning with shared values and traditions.
"Speaking English not only opens doors economically but helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society," the order states.
Although the order does not require immediate changes to federal programs, it has been celebrated by English-only advocates, particularly those aligned with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
More than 30 states have already passed similar laws designating English as the official language. Supporters of the executive order argue that it simplifies government communication and promotes a sense of national cohesion, especially in a nation with a diverse population.
The executive order rescinds a mandate from the Clinton era that required federal agencies and organisations receiving federal funding to offer language assistance for non-English speakers.
However, the order allows these agencies to keep their existing policies and continue to provide services in languages other than English, giving them the flexibility to decide what best serves their communities.
Despite the lack of immediate changes to federal programs, the order has drawn mixed reactions from both political sides.
Advocates of the English-only movement have hailed the move as a step towards unifying the nation under a single language. “This is HUGE,” conservative political activist Charlie Kirk wrote on social media, calling it a message of national unity in an era of mass immigration.
However, the order has prompted backlash from pro-immigration groups, civil rights organisations, and Democratic leaders.
Critics argue that the order could disproportionately affect non-English-speaking immigrants and communities. “We see exactly what Trump is trying to do by continuing to put a target on the backs of Black and brown immigrants and communities who speak different languages,” said Anabel Mendoza, communications director of United We Dream, a youth-led immigrant advocacy group.
The United States has never had an official language, and this executive order represents a symbolic shift that has reignited a long-standing debate about the role of language in American identity.
The move has drawn particular concern from Puerto Rican officials, where Spanish is predominantly spoken. "There will be no statehood without assimilation, and Puerto Ricans will never surrender our identity," said Pablo José Hernández Rivera, the resident commissioner of Puerto Rico.
While over 75% of Americans speak only English at home, the country is home to approximately 42 million Spanish speakers, alongside millions of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Arabic speakers.
Advocates for bilingual services warn that the order could make it harder for immigrants to access essential government services and information in their native languages, a concern particularly important for vulnerable communities in the US.
In addition to the controversy surrounding the order, the decision has also drawn attention to previous actions taken by the Trump administration, such as the removal of the Spanish-language version of the White House website after Trump’s inauguration in 2017.
The Spanish version was restored in 2021 after President Joe Biden took office, but questions remain about whether it will be reinstated under this new directive.
The Trump administration has long supported efforts to promote English-only practices in the United States.
During his first presidential campaign in 2015, Trump famously mocked his rival Jeb Bush, who occasionally spoke in Spanish, saying, “This is a country where we speak English, not Spanish.” The new executive order marks the latest move in a series of actions aimed at reducing bilingual education and curbing immigration.
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