President Donald Trump signed an executive order making English the official language of the United States for the first time, according to a White House official on Friday. This action will reverse a directive from former President Bill Clinton in 2000 that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funds to offer language assistance to non-English speakers. The move comes amid Trump’s intensified efforts to address immigration, which has brought a wide variety of languages to the country. However, federal agencies will still have the discretion to provide services and documents in languages other than English when necessary, the White House clarified.
The order’s objective is to promote national unity, with the administration asserting that a national language fosters cohesion, helps immigrants integrate, and enriches the nation’s culture. Trump’s order also aims to encourage newcomers to adopt English, opening up greater opportunities for them.
Currently, 32 states have already established English as their official language. Trump has frequently criticized the linguistic diversity in the U.S., particularly when addressing illegal immigration.
