President Donald Trump is set to sign an order making English the official language of the United States. This move has sparked concerns among activists who worry it will negatively affect non-English speakers, particularly in areas like immigration and voter access.
Announced on Friday, the order allows government agencies and federally funded organizations to choose whether to continue offering services in languages other than English. This reverses a policy from former President Bill Clinton that required language assistance for non-English speakers. The White House argues that the change will foster unity, improve government efficiency, and encourage civic engagement.
However, critics view the order as divisive. Vanessa Cárdenas, executive director of America’s Voice, an immigration advocacy group, believes it will harm those who rely on language support for essential services. According to the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, while having an official language can help define a nation’s identity, it can also exclude people whose language is not recognized.
Supporters of the order, like the group U.S. English, argue that it will promote a common language for communication and encourage immigrants to learn English to access government services. They believe it provides a clear language policy for the country.
Currently, more than 350 languages are spoken in the U.S., according to Census data. The most widely spoken languages after English are Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, and Arabic
