The DOJ has moved to implement President Donald Trump’s order on establishing English as the official language of the United States. The guidance is intended to “streamline federal processes, reduce administrative burdens, and increase operational efficiency across agencies by removing extensive translation services and de-prioritizing multilingualism over English proficiency,” the agency explained in a press release.
“As President Trump has made clear, English is the official language of the United States,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “The Department of Justice will lead the effort to codify the President’s Executive Order and eliminate wasteful virtue-signaling policies across government agencies to promote assimilation over division.”
The guidance declares that a “shared language binds Americans together, transcending different backgrounds to create a common foundation for public discourse, government operations, and civic life, while leaving ample room for the vibrant linguistic diversity that thrives in private and community spheres.” It noted that the effort supports the American dream by allowing residents an enhanced “social and economic integration.”
To comply with Trump’s order, the DOJ’s guidance describes the agency as rescinding prior guidance affecting English speakers and launching internal reviews to phase out “unnecessary multilingual offerings.”
Federal agencies are to further consider English-only services and bridge language barriers by implementing “artificial intelligence and machine translation to communicate with individuals who are limited English proficient,” the guidance says. Agencies that cut costs by limiting translation services are to redirect the funds “toward research and programs that improve English proficiency and assimilation.”
According to President Trump’s executive order, a “nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language.”