Top Five Things To Know About Trump’s English Language Executive Order
On Saturday, President Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. This bold move, rooted in America's founding traditions, aims to foster national unity. As the cultural battle over America's identity continues, this executive order represents a significant shift toward promoting assimilation rather than accommodation. While critics will inevitably claim this is xenophobic, the order actually creates a pathway for immigrants to achieve the American Dream through mastery of our common language.
Here are the top five things to know about this story:
1. English Is Now America's Official Language
For the first time in American history, English has been formally designated as the official language of the United States through executive action. Trump's order points to our founding documents—the Declaration of Independence and Constitution—as evidence that English has always been our de facto national language. This isn't reinventing America; it's simply codifying what has been true since 1776. While numerous failed attempts have been made in Congress to establish an official language in the past, Trump has finally delivered what lawmakers couldn't, asserting that "a nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society."
2. Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 Has Been Revoked
The order explicitly revokes Executive Order 13166, signed by President Clinton in 2000, which mandated federal agencies to provide services in multiple languages to individuals with limited English proficiency. For over two decades, this policy forced government agencies to spend millions of taxpayer dollars on translation services rather than encouraging English acquisition. Attorney General Pam Bondi is now directed to rescind all policy guidance documents issued under Clinton’s order and provide updated guidance that aligns with this vision of linguistic unity.
3. Federal Agencies Retain Flexibility In Implementation
Despite media hysteria suggesting otherwise, the order actually gives federal agencies significant flexibility. Agency heads aren't required to "amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or services prepared or offered in languages other than English." Instead, they can make decisions they "deem necessary to fulfill their respective agencies' mission and efficiently provide Government services to the American people." This common-sense approach allows for practical application rather than rigid dogma.
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4. The Order Promotes Immigrant Success And Assimilation
Far from being anti-immigrant, this order explicitly recognizes that "speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society." By encouraging English learning, Trump is providing immigrants with the most essential tool for success in America. The order celebrates the "long tradition of multilingual American citizens who have learned English and passed it to their children for generations," acknowledging our immigrant heritage while promoting assimilation.
5. Most Countries Have an Official Language
The executive order frames the official language designation as a means to "promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement." By establishing one common language, the order aims to create "a more cohesive and efficient society" built on shared values and communication. Unlike the balkanizing multilingual policies of the past, this approach seeks to unite Americans through our common linguistic heritage.
This shouldn’t be controversial. In fact, around the world, the overwhelming majority of nations have designated official languages to preserve their national identity and ensure linguistic unity. Approximately 180 out of 195 countries have taken this basic step, leaving America as one of the few outliers. Why should we be the exception? Establishing English as the official language isn’t just common sense—it’s a matter of national cohesion.