The Biggest News Stories Of 2025

March 4, 2025

The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump As The 47th President

Source: Anna Moneymaker / Getty

Updated March 3, 2025 8:00 a.m.

On March 1, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, marking a significant shift in the nation’s language policy.

The executive order not only establishes English as the official language but also revokes Executive Order 13166, issued in 2000 by President Bill Clinton. The previous order mandated that federal agencies and recipients of federal funds provide language assistance to individuals with limited English proficiency. The revocation signifies a move away from federally mandated multilingual services, though agencies retain the discretion to offer services in other languages as they see fit.

The Trump administration asserts that this policy promotes national unity, enhances efficiency in government operations, and fosters a shared cultural identity. Standardizing government communications in English will streamline processes and reduce translation and interpretation services costs.

Prior to this order, the United States had no official national language, despite English being the predominant language used in government and daily life. The debate over establishing English as the official language has persisted for decades, with proponents citing the need for unity and opponents highlighting the country’s linguistic diversity. This executive action represents the first time in nearly 250 years that the U.S. has officially designated a national language.