U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States.
First reported by The Wall Street Journal on Friday and later confirmed by a White House official, the order marks the first time the U.S. will have an official language at the federal level.
The executive order overturns a Clinton-era mandate that required federal agencies and funding recipients to provide extensive language assistance to non-English speakers. Under the new policy, agencies will have discretion in determining how and when to offer services in other languages, according to a fact sheet shared with ABC News.
The White House has defended the move, emphasizing that while the U.S. is home to hundreds of languages, English remains the most widely spoken. Officials argue that a national language fosters unity and strengthens civic engagement.
“Establishing English as the official language promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement,” the White House stated in the fact sheet.
It remains unclear when Trump will sign the executive order.
