Sen. Gillibrand Urges Trump Admin to Reverse Order Making English Official US Language

The Democratic senator from New York said millions of her state’s residents could lose access to critical federal services.

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) speaks to guests during a campaign stop in Dubuque, Iowa, on March 19, 2019. Scott Olson/Getty Images

Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) is pressing the Trump administration to reverse an executive order making English the official language of the United States, saying that it could cut off millions of people from essential federal resources.

In a letter to Attorney General Pamela Bondi last week, Gillibrand said Executive Order No. 14224 and the Justice Department’s implementation memo will “make it significantly more difficult” for Americans with limited English proficiency to access information, benefits, and emergency guidance.

Signed by President Donald Trump on March 1, the order revoked a 2000 directive from then-President Bill Clinton that required federal agencies and federally funded programs to expand access for people with limited English proficiency through multilingual materials and services. It declared English the nation’s sole official language, saying a single national language will promote unity, streamline communication, and improve efficiency in government operations.

The Justice Department’s July 14 memo stated that neither the Civil Rights Act’s Title VI nor the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause treats language as an immutable characteristic like race or national origin, meaning multilingual services are not legally required in most situations.

It instructs agencies to inventory and phase out “unnecessary” multilingual services, temporarily suspend LEP.gov—the federal government’s main public site for language access resources—and consider English-only operations where legally permissible. The department also recommends redirecting savings from translation services to English language education and assimilation programs.

In a statement that day, DOJ said it would lead a “coordinated effort” across federal agencies to implement the order, describing it as a “pivotal step toward unifying our nation through a common language” and pledging to “eliminate wasteful virtue-signaling policies across government agencies to promote assimilation over division.”

Bondi and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon both said the policy prioritizes English proficiency over multilingual services and leaves room for linguistic diversity in private and community life.

DOJ outlined a timeline to consult with agencies for 60 days, release draft guidance within 120 days, and finalize new rules within 180 days, explaining when multilingual assistance will remain necessary.

Gillibrand noted that New York is home to about 19 million people who speak more than 800 languages. American Community Survey data from 2022 shows 5.8 million New Yorkers speak a language other than English at home, she said.

She cited examples where federal agencies have provided multilingual assistance, such as interpreter services at the Social Security Administration, translated pandemic relief guidance from the Small Business Administration, and multilingual emergency alerts issued by the FCC.

Her letter, dated Aug. 6, criticized the removal of LEP.gov and DOJ’s guidance for agencies to review multilingual materials with an eye toward reduction or elimination. She warned that information on labor rights, housing, emergency preparedness, and other vital programs could become inaccessible to millions in the United States.

Gillibrand is seeking written answers from the Justice Department by Aug. 22 on how it will determine which multilingual resources to eliminate, how agencies will communicate with non-English speakers, and how benefits will remain accessible without translation services.

The Justice Department said it had no further comment beyond its July 14 memo and statement. The White House did not respond to Epoch Times’ request for comment on Gillibrand’s letter before publication.

Michael Clements contributed to this report.