Trump administration directs US agencies to use English over foreign languages
The Justice Department guidance could impact more than 27 million people with limited English proficiency in the United States.
The US Justice Department has issued guidance directing federal agencies to prioritise English in their operations and limit the use of foreign-language materials, according to reports by the Times of India and Hindustan Times. The directive aims to make English the default language for government functions, including official correspondence, regulations, websites, and artificial intelligence tools.
This move follows a March 2025 executive order by President Donald Trump that named English as the official language of the United States. The order reversed a long-standing federal policy intended to help people with limited English proficiency access government services. While the original order did not mandate the removal of multilingual services, the new guidance encourages agencies to operate primarily in English.
The Justice Department stated that agencies should only provide services in other languages when necessary for their missions, such as in healthcare or national security, or when required by law. Some departments have already begun changes, including the General Services Administration, which shut down the Spanish-language version of USA.gov, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which removed non-English options in August.
Civil rights lawyer Michael Mulé noted that limiting these services could hinder public functions, such as reporting crimes via the FBI tip line or filing taxes correctly. Policy analyst Jacob Hofstetter from the Migration Policy Institute also suggested the guidance might lead to more agencies reducing language access. The Justice Department has invited public comments on the memorandum until January 11.
