Voice of America
02 Mar 2025, 07:32 GMT+10
President Donald Trump signed on Saturday an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.
The order allows government agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to choose whether to continue to offer documents and services in languages other than English.
It rescinds a mandate from former President Bill Clinton that required the government and organizations that received federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers.
"Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society," according to the order.
"In welcoming new Americans, a policy of encouraging the learning and adoption of our national language will make the United States a shared home and empower new citizens to achieve the American dream," the order also states. "Speaking English not only opens doors economically, but it helps newcomers engage in their communities, participate in national traditions, and give back to our society."
More than 30 states have passed laws designating English as their official language, according to U.S. English, a group that advocates for making English the official language in the United States.
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.
Within hours of Trump's inauguration last month, the new administration took down the Spanish language version of the official White House website.
The White House said at the time it was committed to bringing the Spanish language version of the website back online. As of Saturday, it was still not restored.
The White House did not immediately respond to a message about whether that would happen.
Trump shut down the Spanish version of the website during his first term. It was restored when President Joe Biden was inaugurated in 2021.
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More Information(Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images) Austin Riley and Matt Olson hit back-to-back home runs off Marcus Stroman and the host Atlanta...
Kampala — The Ugandan army confirmed Sunday it has sent troops to another town in the northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo to...
Cotonou, Benin — Clashes in Benin over the last week between armed groups and the military left 10 dead, including one soldier, as...
OULAD SLAMA, MOROCCO — Sheep come running when Larbi El Ghazouani pours alfalfa and straw into their troughs twice a day. The 55-year-old...
New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): Afghanistan's steady rise in international cricket has caught the attention of cricketing greats,...
New Delhi [India], March 1 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday highlighted India's capability to efficiently organize large-scale...
COPENHAGEN, Denmark: A remote Arctic facility designed to preserve the world's agricultural diversity is set to receive a major new...
London — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday he would speak with King Charles III about defending Canada's sovereignty, as President...
U.S. President Donald Trump is planning to impose new tariffs Tuesday on Canadian and Mexican exports to the United States, but Commerce...
President Macron won the uphill battle of briefly nudging President Trump to Europe's position on Ukraine. Other leaders should take...
The brief campaign was launched after a heated debate at the White House, where Zelensky refused to discuss peace with Trump ...
President Donald Trump signed on Saturday an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. The...