President Donald Trump is advancing a proposal to make English the official language of the United States, seeking to foster "cohesion" in a country forged by waves of immigration, based on a White House document received on Friday.
"It is long past time English is designated as the official language of the United States," the document said, referencing a confidential official source.
The executive order by Trump "affirms that a common language fosters national cohesion."
This will undo a requirement from the 1990s, implemented by then-President Bill Clinton, which mandated federal agencies and organizations that receive federal funding to provide language services for non-English speakers.
The new policy does, though, permit agencies "flexibility" in deciding how much language assistance they give beyond English.
Ever since assuming the office, Trump has signed a plethora of executive orders that sought to cement his hard-right agenda. Most of his actions, particularly those with respect to federal fund withdrawals that are Congressionally approved, have been subjected to legal battles.
While the document also recognizes that more than 350 languages are spoken throughout the nation, it emphasizes that English has always been "the language of our nation, with historic documents like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution written in English."
"A national language strengthens the fabric of our society, empowering citizens old and new," the document went on to emphasize.
As of 2019 government statistics, almost 68 million U.S. residents used a non-English language in their homes. Although English is the overwhelming language, approximately 40 million residents speak Spanish in their homes.
Outside of Spanish, the United States boasts a diverse linguistic landscape with Chinese, Vietnamese, and many Native American tribal languages.
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