President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Saturday, designating English as the official US language.
The order allows agencies and organizations receiving federal funds to choose whether to continue to provide documents and services in languages other than English.
He retracted his duties from former President Bill Clinton and called for organizations receiving government and federal funding to provide language support to non-English speakers.
“Establishing English as an official language not only streamlines communication, it also strengthens shared national values and creates a more cohesive and efficient society,” he responded to the order.
“Policies that encourage our language learning and adoption when welcoming new Americans will make the United States a shared home and enable new citizens to achieve American dreams,” the order states. “Speaking English not only opens the door economically, but also helps newcomers engage with the community, participate in national traditions and give back to society.”
According to US English, a group that advocates for the use of English as the official language of the United States, more than 30 states have already passed laws designating English as the official language.
For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation designating English as the official US language, but those efforts have not been successful.
Within hours of Trump’s inauguration last month, the new administration defeated the Spanish version of the official White House website.
Hispanic advocacy groups and others expressed confusion and frustration at the change. The White House said at the time it was committed to bringing the Spanish version of the website back online. As of Saturday, it has not been restored yet.
The White House did not immediately respond to messages about whether that would happen.
Trump closed the Spanish version of the website during his first semester. It recovered when President Joe Biden was launched in 2021.
“We don’t want to see people lose their lives because we have a failed air traffic control system,” the Transport Secretary said Thursday he visited the FAA Academy in Oklahoma City.
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