Trump Declares English as Official Language of the United States

On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States—a first in the nation’s history.  The order revokes a 2000 mandate by former President Bill Clinton that required federal agencies and federally funded organizations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.  The new policy aims to promote unity, cultivate a shared culture, ensure consistency in government operations, and facilitate civic engagement.  While agencies are no longer obligated to offer services in other languages, they retain the discretion to do so as deemed necessary.  This executive order is among over 70 issued in the early weeks of Trump’s second term.