A new Executive Order published on March 1, 2025, by the US White House designates English as the only official language of the United States and revokes Executive Order 13166, “Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency” (LEP), signed in 2000 during the Clinton administration.
The new order states that it is in the country’s best interest for the federal government to designate only one official language. It also argues that “Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society.”
The order also specifies that agency heads, defined as “the highest-ranking official of an agency,” are “not required to amend, remove, or otherwise stop production of documents, products, or other services prepared or offered in languages other than English.”
While the text states that this Executive Order does not create new legal rights or benefits, and that it should be implemented subject to existing laws, the Trump administration has instructed the Attorney General to update policy guidance in line with the new official language designation.
A Shift in Language Access Policy?
Revoked order 13166 required federal agencies to examine their services and identify language assistance needs for LEP populations, mandating the development and implementation of systems to meet those needs.
Language access guidelines under 13166 aligned with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of multiple criteria, including national origin (and by association, language). It expressly mandated recipients of federal financial assistance, such as healthcare providers and educational institutions, to offer language assistance to LEP applicants and beneficiaries.
In 2003, during George W. Bush’s administration, the LEP.gov website was launched to help federal agencies, advocates, and individuals access related information and services. And for a couple of decades, including during the previous Trump term (2017–2021), the US Department of Justice (DOJ) provided policy guidance to assist federal agencies for compliance.
Still standing, and not mentioned in the latest Executive Order, is the one formulated during the Biden administration: Executive Order 14091 (2023), “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.”
Executive Order 14091 instructs agencies to consider opportunities to “improve accessibility for people with disabilities and improve language access services to ensure that all communities can engage with agencies’ respective civil rights offices.”
At the time of writing, both the LEP.gov site and the US Commission on Civil Rights’ Limited English Proficiency Plan remain online.
