Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order making English the official language of the United States, a move that would formalize a longstanding practice, as the US has never had an official language at the federal level. While English is already dominant, Trump has voiced concerns about the increasing use of other languages in the country, calling it a “horrible thing” during his campaign.
The executive order will rescind a 2000 mandate from Bill Clinton that required federal agencies to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. Trump’s administration argues that making English the official language will promote unity and efficiency in government.
This executive order follows a series of over 70 others signed by Trump since his inauguration, covering issues from renaming the Gulf of Mexico to banning gender transitions for minors.