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DOJ outlined a timeline to consult with agencies for 60 days, release draft guidance within 120 days, and finalize new rules within 180 days, explaining when multilingual assistance will remain necessary.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