Trump to declare English as official US language

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order officially declaring English as the national language of the United States, a decision that has drawn both strong support and fierce opposition.

The order, expected to be signed on Feb 28, overturns a directive issued by former President Bill Clinton in 2000 that required federal agencies and organizations receiving government funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. While English has always been the dominant language of government and law, the US has never officially designated a national language — until now.

A shift in language policy

Under the new directive, federal agencies will no longer be obligated to offer multilingual services, though they may continue to do so at their discretion. Supporters argue that the change will promote national unity, enhance efficiency in government operations, and encourage English proficiency among immigrants.

However, critics warn that the policy could create significant barriers for non-English speakers, particularly in areas like immigration, voter participation, and access to essential government services. Advocacy groups fear that elderly naturalized citizens, minority communities, and residents of US territories such as Puerto Rico — where Spanish is the dominant language —could be disproportionately affected.

Reactions and controversy

The White House has framed the executive order as a move toward strengthening civic engagement. “Embracing English as our official language fosters unity, efficiency, and opportunity for all Americans,” a White House spokesperson said.

But immigration and civil rights groups have strongly condemned the move. Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice, an immigration advocacy organization, called the order “a direct attack on millions of U.S. citizens who rely on language assistance for essential information.”

Anabel Mendoza of United We Dream, an immigrant rights group, argued that the policy sends a divisive message: “Trump wants to signal that if you’re not white, wealthy, and fluent in English, you don’t belong here.”

A longstanding debate

More than 30 states have already designated English as their official language, with Hawaii being the only state to recognize two — English and Hawaiian. Efforts to establish English as the national language at the federal level have been introduced in Congress multiple times but have never passed. The most recent attempt, the English Language Unity Act, was introduced in 2023 by Senators Kevin Cramer and JD Vance.

Trump has long expressed support for such policies, previously criticizing the presence of multiple languages in government services. At the 2024 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Trump stated: “We have languages coming into our country that no one even knows how to speak. It’s crazy. It has to stop.”

Legal and political challenges ahead

Since returning to office in January, Trump has signed over 75 executive orders, including renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and restoring Mount McKinley’s name after it was changed to Denali under President Barack Obama.

The move to designate English as the official language is expected to face legal and political challenges, with advocacy groups and legal experts already preparing to challenge the order in court. Critics argue that limiting language access could violate civil rights protections and disproportionately impact immigrant communities.

As the debate over language and identity intensifies, the policy’s future may ultimately be decided in the courts — and by voters in the next election.