On March 1, 2025, President Trump issued and signed Executive Order (EO) 14224, purporting to officially designate English as the official language of the United States. The EO states that English has been “used” as the national language since it has appeared in founding documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. It also asserts that “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.”

The EO however, does not require that federal agencies make changes to existing government services, and allows the heads of agencies to make their own decisions about how to best provide services to the public. Agencies are also not required to stop the production of documents, products, or services that are prepared or offered in languages other than English. Finally, the order also revokes Executive Order 13166, issued in 2000, which aimed to improve access to services for individuals with limited English proficiency.