Earlier this week, the Administration announced the implementation of an Executive Order (EO), Designating English as the Official Language of The United States. This EO promotes English as the sovereign language of the United States, a disavowal of the rich diversity of this country. It also rescinds former President Clinton’s Executive Order 13166, which required federal agencies to improve language access for limited English-proficient (LEP) individuals.

This EO means federal agencies are no longer required to provide resources and support in languages other than English to ensure that non-English speakers can access federal programs and services. Instead, it leaves it up to the agencies to decide whether to offer these services. It also opens up the possibility of greater impunity for entities that are not otherwise committed to serving the needs of LEP individuals.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders represent a population with one of the highest rates of limited English proficiency, with approximately 74 percent of Asian Americans and 41 percent of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders speaking a language other than English at home. It is critical to identify and serve the language needs of these groups, or we, in effect, exclude these communities from accessing the necessary resources and services for them to achieve greater financial security.,” said Seema Agnani, CEO of National CAPACD. “By declaring English as the official language, the Administration is removing the accountability of policymakers, service providers, and other entities to serve the needs of LEP individuals.”

Centering cultural expression and embracing linguistic diversity in our work, National CAPACD will continue our advocacy and coalition mobilization efforts to urge continued support of and investment in language access so that resources and services reach the communities that need it most.