# Consequences of making English the official language of the United States **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 28, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928 "2025-02-28T15:22:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/1 "2025-02-28T15:22:07Z")
[https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-make-english-official-us-language-source-says-2025-02-28/](https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-make-english-official-us-language-source-says-2025-02-28/) What will be the potential consequences of this action? i assume that the government will no longer send any notices (legal or otherwise) in any other languages. Public signs in languages other than English will likely be outlawed in many states. Can this also legalize punishment for speaking Spanish in government properties like schools etc? Can this make speaking a language other an English probable cause for an ICE detention? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/2 "2025-02-28T15:33:40Z")
I would think suprisingly few, but almost all of those unintended. English is slready the de facto official language. It would send a powerful “not welcome” message to immigrants, and non-immigrant native speakers of Spanish and Indigenous languages, though, which is probably the intention. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/3 "2025-02-28T15:33:54Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > i assume that the government will no longer send any notices (legal or otherwise) in any other languages. Federal government, maybe. > [@](#): > > Public signs in languages other than English will likely be outlawed in many states. I don’t see how the federal government could tell a state what language to put on their signs. > [@](#): > > Can this also legalize punishment for speaking Spanish in government properties like schools etc? I doubt it. First amendment. They could instruct federal employees not to speak foreign languages on threat of termination, but you can’t stop private citizens from speaking their native language. > [@](#): > > Can this make speaking a language other an English probable cause for an ICE detention? Of course not. First amendment, again. Also probably fourth amendment. This is performative meanness. Counterproductive xenophobic virtue-signaling (anti-virtue?). Basically Trump’s stock-and-trade. ---
**Author:** ![Zoobi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/13edae/32.png) [@Zoobi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoobi)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/4 "2025-02-28T15:36:03Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > I don’t see how the federal government could tell a state what language to put on their signs. Oh those states will gladly prohibit them, many have been wanting to for years. And the others will have to decide if they want any federal funding or not. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/5 "2025-02-28T15:44:41Z")
Well, ultimately that comes down to Section VI of the Civil Rights Act. As most of the mean and pointless things Trump is trying to do, it will come down to (a) whether courts agree that the POTUS can just disregard duly-passed federal law and (b) whether Congress will do anything about it. For reference, the requirement in the CRA is: “No person in the United States shall, on the ground of race, color, or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.” There is lots and lots of case law in this area, none of which I am qualified to fully opine on. Jimmy Carter signed an EO that specifically instructed Federal agencies to work to improve access for people with “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) but of course as an EO Trump could rescind that part. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/6 "2025-02-28T15:46:35Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > And the others will have to decide if they want any federal funding or not. In case my last point wasn’t clear, I’m reasonably sure that removing federal funds if a state _didn’t_ remove foreign-language signage or documents would be a violation of Title VI (among other laws, probably). That is obviously clearly discriminatory and serves no compelling government interest. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/7 "2025-02-28T15:48:38Z")
I can see tribal lands reverting to signs solely in their native language in protest. And when you think of all those tribal casinos across America … ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/8 "2025-02-28T15:53:50Z")
> [@Zoobi](#): > > i assume that the government will no longer send any notices (legal or otherwise) in any other languages. Public signs in languages other than English will likely be outlawed in many states. **[From what I’ve read so far](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-executive-order-english-official-language/)**, federal agencies and funding recipients will no longer be required to provide multi-lingual support, but they will not be barred from doing so: > The English language executive order will rescind a federal mandate that requires agencies and other recipients of federal funding to provide language assistance to non-English speakers, a mandate issued by former President Bill Clinton. Agencies, however, will still be able to provide documents and services in other languages. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/9 "2025-02-28T16:16:02Z")
Most documents are easily translated into just about all languages now, and voice as well. Soon we will have actually good universal translators available for free and coming as features on our phones and earbuds. So I don’t see this being an issue. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/10 "2025-02-28T16:26:46Z")
Yeah, this is disgusting, xenophobic pandering, but I doubt it will have much meaningful effect. Note that the OP’s cite reports that 32 States have already made English their official language, and no horrible consequences have come to pass AFAIK. If they stop providing assistance to non-English speakers trying to access government services, that will harm a lot of people. But so far they’re not even saying they’re going to do that, just that they reserve the right to. Of course, if we had a functioning Supreme Court, they’d tell Trump that it’s Congress’ job to make those sorts of decisions, but that ship has sailed. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/11 "2025-02-28T16:49:14Z")
I’d expect that the order would only affect Federal offices. It wouldn’t affect state governments (though, some might follow) and it wouldn’t affect private business. And, of course, it’s quite plausible that it will be rolled back by the courts due to the [Civil Rights Act of 1964](https://www.archives.gov/eeo/laws/title-vi.html). But, in general, I’d expect the impact (if successful) would be: 1. Tourists having a difficult time in national parks. 2. Difficulty for Puerto Ricans and other Federal territories that are non-English speaking as their first language to inform their people of the laws - like how to pay your taxes. 3. Difficulty for people in the US, doing Federal activities like paying your taxes, to do so if not a proficient English speaker. This will impact both legal and illegal denizens. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/12 "2025-02-28T16:58:18Z")
I agree that it is just the hate-filled toddler being a hate-filled toddler. I was on SNAP (foodstamps) for about twenty five years. During that time, I had to make some visits to the county office. The percentage of people there who spoke little to no English was high. NOTE- I am not saying these people were lazy, stupid, lacking in education or skills or anythging like that. They just didn’t speak English and that made it very hard to get any job and impossible to get a job that paid a living wage. If we follow the wishes of the hate-filled toddler, these people can either stay here and be starving and homeless, or they can stay in their native countries. Obviously, the MAGA crowd would prefer the latter and wouldn’t care about the former. There is an episode of Big Bang Theory in which Sheldon makes a science bowl team consisting of himself and workers he finds on the campus. One man on the team turns out to have more mathematical knowledge than Sheldon. “In Russia, I am physics professor. Here, I am janitor.” I have found this to be very true. I spent over two decades living in a neighborhood in northeast Philly filled with people what used to be the USSR. The majority of them received SNAP benefits. They had education, skills and were willing to work. They also spoke little to no English and often found that their degrees were meaningless in this country. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/13 "2025-02-28T16:58:56Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > I can see tribal lands reverting to signs solely in their native language in protest. And when you think of all those tribal casinos across America … Why would they shoot themselves in the foot like that? That sort of protest is only going to discourage English-speaking patrons from coming to spend their money. Those patrons aren’t going to complain to the federal government about the signage; they’ll just stay home or go to some other casino where the signposting is in English. ---
**Author:** ![Cardigan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardigan/32/187_2.png) [@Cardigan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardigan)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/14 "2025-02-28T17:00:28Z")
I would assume the large majority of their casino revenue comes from monoglot English speakers off reservation lands. They want these folks to understand their signs so they’ll spend their money there. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/15 "2025-02-28T17:00:30Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > But, in general, I’d expect the impact (if successful) would be: > > 1. Tourists having a difficult time in national parks. > 2. Difficulty for Puerto Ricans and other Federal territories that are non-English speaking as their first language to inform their people of the laws - like how to pay your taxes. > 3. Difficulty for people in the US, doing Federal activities like paying your taxes, to do so if not a proficient English speaker. This will impact both legal and illegal denizens. Which is part of the point; when they can’t do what they are supposed to because the government refuses to talk to them in their language, they will be castigated and punished for it. Imagine for example people being expect to defend themselves in court without understanding the language, and being treated as if they were deliberately not answering the court. Or people being classified as mentally disabled because they “can’t read” or “can’t talk”. The sort of thing we used to do in the “good old days” the Right loves so much, in other words. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/16 "2025-02-28T17:04:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Imagine for example people being expect to defend themselves in court without understanding the language, and being treated as if they were deliberately not answering the court. My understanding is there is separate legislation and jurisprudence requiring access to the courts in a language understood by the participants. This EO has no effect on that. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/17 "2025-02-28T17:06:12Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Imagine for example people being expect to defend themselves in court without understanding the language, and being treated as if they were deliberately not answering the court. This is the current policy of Japan. I once translated for an Englishman and his jailed daughter, as he wasn’t proficient in Japanese and needed to know what to do with her things before she was booted from the country, but no English was allowed in jail. Fortunately for her, her Japanese was at least minimal enough to be able to functionally cooperate with the jailers. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/18 "2025-02-28T17:08:49Z")
> [@Jas09](#): > > My understanding is there is separate legislation and jurisprudence requiring access to the courts in a language understood by the participants. And? The point of this is to _enable_ the bigots to get away with that. Trump just needs to remove the roadblocks for them, they’ll do the rest. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/19 "2025-02-28T17:41:09Z")
Court interpreters are required by [the US code](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/28/1827) . It cannot be changed by executive order for a couple of reasons, one of which is that the judicial branch is not subject to executive orders. If they were, the administration wouldn’t be appealing so many court decisions. He’d just issue another executive order telling the court what to do. Might the court system decide to just ignore the US code and not provide interpreters - maybe. But they could have done that without the executive order if they were so inclined. In any event, the consequences of this executive order will not be as bad as they would have been in the past. Maybe I go to the SS office and they won’t get me an interpreter- but there are translation apps now. Which certainly aren’t perfect but will probably work for instructions on filling out a form. And it’s _maybe_ they won’t get an interpreter - this order doesn’t seem to forbid it. ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2025, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928/20 "2025-02-28T17:48:33Z")
Declaring an official language means the official language has to be defined. There has to be an official method to determine what words, phrases, pronunciations, punctuation, etc are a part of the official language and which are not. The details will make enforcement either ineffective or burdensome. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/consequences-of-making-english-the-official-language-of-the-united-states/1014928.md?page=2)