Trump to sign an order to make English the official language of US

Source: HUM Images / Getty

President Donald Trump is set to sign an executive order declaring English as the official language of the United States.

The order will give government agencies and federally funded organizations the discretion to decide whether to provide documents and services in languages other than English.

It will also overturn a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required language assistance for non-English speakers.

The White House argues that this move will promote national unity, improve government efficiency, and encourage civic engagement.

The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the forthcoming order.

On the campaign trail last year, Mr. Trump decried other languages entering the U.S.

“We have languages coming into our country,” Mr. Trump said at CPAC, the Conservative Political Action Conference, outside Washington, D.C., last year. “…These are languages — it’s the craziest thing — they have languages that nobody in this country has ever heard of. It’s a very horrible thing.”

According to U.S. English, an advocacy group supporting English as the official language of the United States, more than 30 states have already enacted laws designating English as their official language.