English Will Soon Become the Official US Language

Townhall ^ | 02/28/2025 | Leah Barkoukis

[SeekAndFind]

President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday that makes English the official U.S. language.

The move will rescind a Clinton-era mandate that required federal agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance. Now, those agencies will have the flexibility to determine whether to offer service in languages other than English, though the order encourages “new Americans to adopt a national language that opens doors to greater opportunities.”

Through the order, President Trump “affirms that a common language fosters national cohesion, helps newcomers engage in communities and traditions, and enriches our shared culture,” a fact sheet said.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, most Americans—more than 78%—speak only English at home. But millions of Americans primarily speak other languages, such as Spanish, Chinese and Tagalog. Dozens of Native American languages are also spoken in the U.S.

More than 30 states have passed legislation designating English as their official language.

Since the civil-rights movement of the 1960s, several laws have been passed to provide services or equal opportunities for non-English speaking people in the U.S. Republicans in Congress have also tried—unsuccessfully—to pass legislation making English the national language.

Vice President JD Vance introduced the English Language Unity Act when he served as a U.S. senator from Ohio. The proposed bill, co-sponsored by Sen. Kevin Cramer (R., N.D.), called for the federal government to conduct all official business in English and introduce a language-testing standard for a pathway to citizenship. (WSJ)

The move was praised on social media: 

Excellent. This is long, long overdue.

America is not just an abstract "idea." It is a nation and a people, with our own distinct history, heritage, culture and language.

In this country, we speak English.

It's about time our laws reflected that.

pic.twitter.com/pzQjNQ7afj— Eric Schmitt (@Eric_Schmitt) February 28, 2025

[ClearCase_guy]

Some judge in VT isn’t going to like this.

[Regulator]

EO 13166 should have been rescinded in Bush 43’s 1st term.

That it took this long is insane.

But it shows who the real American patriot is.

[Carry_Okie]

...the order encourages “new Americans to adopt a national language that opens doors to greater opportunities.”

They should be conversant in English before attaining citizenship.

[Redcitizen]

“English Will Soon Become the Official US Language”

That’s muy Bueno.

[HYPOCRACY]

Press “GFY” for español.

[dodger]

Good. But now enact a statute, too.

[Whatever Works]

Oh please, YES!

[Ronald77]

Well that s great way past time but meaningless like all EO’s. If congress does not enact them into law they be eliminated by next democrat.

[drypowder]

So does that mean that ALL state and federal public documents will be printed only in English? If it doesn’t mean that, it should mean that.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Aint that the truth.I get pissed every election with the signs that read VOTE AQUI.I would love to fire the POS that came up with that.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I sure hope the Trump outlawed “Para español, oprima dos” on phone message systems.

I estimated earlier today that it costs the entire USA the equivalent of 25 full-time people to listen to that crap on the phone. What a drag on productivity.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It’s about time. Just about every other has their own language. We should too.

[Veto!]

English? Hooray.

Whoda thunk after the Xiden years.

[Myrddin]

My great grandfather was born in Wales as was his wife. Both spoke Welsh and English. After serving in the Union Army starting in 1863 and surviving 2 years as a POW in a Confederate prison, he married my great grandmother. They decided that their children would speak only English to ensure success in America. They raised 19 children. My grandfather and his twin brother were both civil and mechanical engineers. Most of the children completed college. Many with master's or better degrees.

Having a common language is a uniting concept. That said, when I visit a non-English speaking country, I try to arrive reasonably conversant in the language. You get better service in the restaurants when you speak in the local tongue. That habit served me well in France, Belgium, Germany, Turkey, Italy and Wales. I should be more conversant in Spanish after years living in San Diego. Perhaps I'll give that another go. I've not had an opportunity to exercise my limited skill in Gaelic. My limited command of Japanese was enough to help a native Japanese presenter at UseNIX one year. Languages are fun. I wish I had more time to gain real fluency.

[damper99]

Yep, this won’t last a week before a judge tosses it out.

[Alberta's Child]

English has been the de facto official language of the U.S. since its founding. Court proceedings and property titles aren’t recorded in any other language in any state where I’ve worked.

[ridesthemiles]

I used to live in So CALIF.

I REMEMBER-— ballots were printed in 60+++ languages & dialects.

[Fai Mao]

Hi-ya! Mmm-ho!

[MayflowerMadam]

“does that mean that ALL state and federal public documents will be printed only in English?”

It had better. I hate getting my Medicare, etc., federal docs with 5 unnecessary pages with gobbledegook. What a waste of money.