U.S. President Donald Trump is preparing to sign an executive order that will establish English as the official language of the United States. This move, first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Friday and later confirmed by an unnamed White House official, will mark the first time the U.S. has had an official language at the federal level.
The executive order will revoke a policy from the Clinton administration that required federal agencies and recipients of government funding to offer significant language assistance to non-English speakers.
With the new order, agencies will have the discretion to determine when and how to provide services in languages other than English, according to a fact sheet shared by the White House with ABC News.
The White House is defending the decision, emphasizing that while the U.S. is home to hundreds of languages, English remains the most widely spoken. Officials argue that designating a national language fosters unity, enhances government efficiency, and creates a clearer path for civic participation.
“Designating English as the official language promotes unity, ensures government efficiency, and facilitates civic engagement,” the White House stated.
It is still unclear when Trump will officially sign the executive order.