DOJ Pushes for English-Only Government Operations
Department of Justice mandates federal agencies to conduct business solely in English, accelerating Trump’s 2025 executive order.
2 min read
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued new guidelines requiring all federal agencies to conduct business exclusively in English, accelerating the implementation of President Donald Trump’s 2025 executive order that declared English as the official language of the United States. The directive, issued to fulfill Trump’s mandate, instructs agencies to operate solely in English, including official correspondence, regulations, public notices, forms, websites, and internal communications.
Trump’s Executive Order Reverses Clinton Policy
President Bill Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 in 2000 required the federal government to provide information in multiple languages for non-English speakers. However, in 2025, Trump overruled this policy with Executive Order 14224, designating English as the official language and mandating that all federal business be conducted in English. While the order does not prohibit agencies from offering information in other languages, the new guidance emphasizes that government materials should be issued only in English.
Accelerating Implementation Across Agencies
Some agencies had already begun transitioning to English-only operations, but the DOJ directive will speed up the process. For example, the General Services Administration recently ended support for the Spanish version of USA.gov, redirecting users to the English site. The Spanish version, launched in 2003 during the George W. Bush administration, is no longer maintained.
Legal Exceptions and Language Access Requirements
While the DOJ directive does not affect services required by law to be delivered in multiple languages, it does not establish a legal requirement for all government services to be available in multiple languages. Civil rights attorney Michael Mulé noted that states and entities receiving federal funds are subject to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which mandates language access for non-English speakers.
English-Only Ballot Measures Gain Momentum
Voters in several states have been asked to approve English-only ballot measures. According to Ballotpedia, 13 states have considered such measures, with all but one approving the idea. The exception is Idaho, where the measure has not yet reached a final decision.
Source: Breitbart
