bondi
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks during a press conference. Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has ended a decades-long policy providing language support for people with limited English proficiency, the agency said.

The decision claims that prioritizing English in all federal operations will strengthen civil participation and social integration. Executive Order 13,166, which provided language support, was instated in 2000 and was aimed at recipients of federal funding under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.

The DOJ added that the requirement extended beyond legal requirements, placing these services ahead of English proficiency and placing a financial burden on the state.

The new approach, the memo added, shifts emphasis toward English-language education. DOJ will also draft new language access guidance, soliciting agency input over a 180-day period, followed by public comment.

Agencies are advised to consider implementing English-only operations where legally permissible, incorporate disclaimers when multilingual materials are necessary, and redirect savings from reduced translation services toward English education programs, the document added.

It also recommends using technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine translation to address essential language needs in a cost-effective manner.

The DOJ ended by committing to assisting agencies during the transition to English as the official language, citing national unity and operational efficiency as key goals. .

Shortly after taking office, President Donald Trump declared English should be the country's official language. Shortly after, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene introduced a bill to do so.

© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.