United States President Donald Trump has signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the US. The order grants government agencies and federally funded organisations the discretion to decide whether to continue offering services in languages other than English.
The directive effectively nullifies a mandate introduced by former President Bill Clinton, which required government bodies and federally funded organisations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
The executive order states: “Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”
The order further asserts: “In welcoming new Americans, a policy of encouraging the learning and adoption of our national language will make the United States a shared home and empower new citizens to achieve the American dream.”
With more than 30 states already having laws that recognise English as their official language, the federal move by the Trump administration is expected to further cement this policy at the national level.
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For decades, members of Congress have made attempts to legislate English as the official language of the country, but such efforts have not succeeded.
Following the executive order, advocacy groups have expressed concerns over its potential implications.
Hispanic advocacy organisations, among others, have decried the policy, stating that it could disenfranchise millions of non-English speakers residing in the United States.
The move follows a pattern observed since Trump's inauguration, with the Spanish-language version of the White House website removed shortly after he assumed office.
Although the administration had earlier assured that the website would be reinstated, as of Saturday, it remained offline.
During Trump’s first term, the Spanish-language version of the White House website was similarly removed and was only restored upon the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021.
The White House has not issued a response on whether it plans to reinstate the Spanish-language website.
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