US President Donald Trump has officially designated English as the national language. He believes this decision will help unite the country, which has long been shaped by immigration.
Executive Order Overturns Previous Policy
In an executive order issued on Saturday, Trump emphasized the importance of a shared language. “A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,” the order stated.
This directive replaces a policy introduced in the 1990s under then-President Bill Clinton. Previously, federal agencies and government-funded organizations had to provide assistance to non-English speakers. However, the new order allows agencies to decide how much multilingual support they will offer. Furthermore, it clarifies, “Nothing in this order… requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency.” Instead, department heads will determine what is necessary to serve the public efficiently.
Trump’s Executive Orders Face Legal Challenges
Since taking office, Trump has issued several executive orders. However, many of them, especially those affecting federal funding, have faced legal challenges. Similarly, this new order may also spark debates over language policies.
White House Justifies the Decision
Meanwhile, the White House acknowledged that over 350 languages are spoken across the US. Nevertheless, it argued that English has been the nation’s primary language since its founding. The order highlighted that key historical documents, such as the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, were written in English.
America’s Linguistic Diversity Remains Strong
According to government data from 2019, nearly 68 million people in the US speak a language other than English at home. Although English remains dominant, more than 40 million Americans primarily speak Spanish. Additionally, large communities speak Chinese, Vietnamese, and several Native American languages. Despite the new policy, the US continues to be one of the most linguistically diverse nations in the world.