President Donald Trump is moving forward with making English the official language of the United States, directing federal agencies to begin phasing out many multilingual services. The policy shift, detailed in new guidance from Attorney General Pam Bondi on July 14, marks a significant cultural change in how the federal government interacts with non-English-speaking communities.
Historically, agencies have offered key services—such as voting information, emergency alerts, IRS forms, and court materials—in multiple languages. These offerings reflected the country’s identity as a nation of immigrants. But under the new directive, agencies must now review and potentially eliminate “unnecessary multilingual offerings.”
Bondi suspended the Limited English Proficiency (LEP) website, which previously guided agencies on helping non-English speakers. While departments aren’t banned from offering multilingual support, they are being encouraged to prioritize English and assess whether certain services could be streamlined by using English only.
Supporters argue the move promotes assimilation and strengthens national unity. “A shared language binds Americans together,” Bondi stated. “This isn’t just tradition—it’s a strategy for integration.”
Yet critics warn the policy could marginalize millions. The Linguistic Society of America (LSA) emphasized that over 80% of the world’s countries are officially multilingual, calling the move divisive. “Language imposition often creates resistance, not unity,” the group noted, adding that race and language are often deeply linked.
Federal law still requires some translations, particularly under the Civil Rights Act, which prohibits national origin discrimination. However, Trump officials argue that past administrations went beyond legal obligations.
A 2024 Pew survey found that 51% of Americans support making English the official language, with support strongest among Republicans.
While implementation is ongoing, the administration plans to release a full list of services that will remain multilingual within 180 days.
