In a move that has been highly anticipated, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order on Friday designating English as the official language of the United States. This decision, according to the White House, will allow government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English.
The executive order will also rescind a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and federally funded organizations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. This decision, according to the White House, promotes unity, efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement.
This move has been welcomed by many, as more than 30 states have already passed laws designating English as their official language. U.S. English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States, has been a strong supporter of this decision.
For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official language of the U.S., but those efforts have not succeeded. However, with this executive order, President Trump is taking a bold step towards promoting unity and efficiency in government operations.
This decision also aligns with Trump’s previous actions, as within hours of his inauguration last month, the new administration took down the Spanish language version of the official White House website. This move caused confusion and frustration among Hispanic advocacy groups and others. However, the White House clarified that it was committed to bringing back the Spanish language version of the website. As of Friday, it was still not restored, but the White House has not yet responded to inquiries about when it will be back online.
This is not the first time that the Spanish version of the White House website has been taken down. During Trump’s first term, it was shut down and only restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated. However, with this executive order, it is expected that the Spanish version of the website will be permanently removed.
The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on this executive order, and it has been met with mixed reactions. However, the overall sentiment is that this decision will promote unity and efficiency in government operations. English has been the predominant language in the United States, and this executive order only solidifies its role as the official language.
In conclusion, President Trump’s decision to designate English as the official language of the United States is a bold and necessary move towards promoting unity and efficiency in government operations. This decision has been welcomed by many and will have a positive impact on the country as a whole. With this executive order, the United States is taking a step towards promoting a common language and creating a pathway for civic engagement.
