English only: Trump clamping down on offering federal services in other languages

USA Today

a day ago

Some federal court rulings have found that failing to provide certain services in other languages can be discriminatory.
The Trump administration is clamping down on other languages as it formally begins implementing the president's order making English the country's sole official language.
Many government agencies have long provided services and documents in other languages, reflecting the United States' longtime reputation as a nation of immigrants. But President Donald Trump upon retaking the White House declared English the nation's official language. Previously, the country had no official language, although English was the default.In guidance issued by Attorney General Pam Bondi on July 14, federal agencies must begin reviewing any "unnecessary multilingual offerings" they currently offer and consider ending them. Trump said making English the official language will improve national unity and encourage immigrants to assimilate, a sentiment echoed by Bondi in her memo.
"By prioritizing English as the official language, we strengthen national unity and operational efficiency while providing agencies with practical tools to balance this mandate with mission-critical responsibilities," Bondi wrote to the entire federal government.
Bondi said she was suspending the federal government's Limited English Proficiency website service, which historically advised agencies on how to best assist people who don't speak English well. The website also lists multiple instances in which federal officials have secured legally binding agreements with state and local governments to provide options for people who don't speak English.
Bondi's memo does not require other agencies to stop providing services in other languages, but orders them to determine "which of their programs, grants, and policies might serve the public at large better if operated exclusively in English." The administration said that within 180 days it will publish a listing of services that will still be offered in other languages.
Federal services currently provided in languages other than English include: voting information, emergency warnings and weather forecasts, court proceedings and IRS forms. People seeking to become U.S. citizens are also allowed to skip the English-language portion of the citizenship test or bring an interpreter, under certain circumstances.
Some federal court rulings have found that failing to provide certain services in other languages can be discriminatory, but Bondi in her new order said some departments were providing far more than the legally required translations. The federal Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, or national origin, but Trump officials argue previous administrations incorrectly applied the law.
"A shared language binds Americans together, transcending different backgrounds to create a common foundation for public discourse, government operations, and civic life, while leaving ample room for the vibrant linguistic diversity that thrives in private and community spheres," Bondi added. "This initiative is not merely a return to tradition but a forward-looking strategy to enhance social and economic integration, offering all residents the opportunity to learn and embrace English as a means of achieving the American dream."
A 2024 survey by the Pew Research Center found that 51% of Americans said it was "extremely or very important" for the U.S. to make English its official language. The survey found that nearly 75% of Republicans or Republican-leaning Americans supported making English the official language, compared to just 32% of Democrats or Democrat-leaning voters.
The Linguistic Society of America, which opposed making English the official national language, noted that Congress repeatedly over centuries declined to pass proposals making the designation, and pointed out that several states in the 1780s had to translate the proposed Constitution into German and Dutch before ratification because so many people didn't speak English.
The Kentucky-based LSA, founded in 1924 to promote the scientific study of langauge, said trying to create national unity through language is ineffective. More than 80% of the world's countries are officially bi- or multilingual, the LSA said.
"Furthermore, there is research documenting how imposing a common language can actually generate intense resistance, rather than creating a 'unified and cohesive' society," the LSA said in a position paper. "The intertwined nature of language and race creates a linguistic hierarchy in which the languages and linguistic repertoires of non-White speakers are considered deficient. The imposition of this kind of linguistic hierarchy can only be divisive."