Attorney General Pam Bondi sent guidance Monday to the rest of the federal bureaucracy urging it to ditch multilingual outreach as much as possible and see what programs can be “operated exclusively in English.”
Ms. Bondi rescinded a Clinton-era policy that had pushed for civil-rights violations against those who discriminated based on limited English proficiency, and she suspended the department’s web page that offered guidance to other agencies urging them to offer access to government services in other languages.
She also told agencies to look at artificial intelligence as a way of helping those who struggle with English to get government services.
The new guidance carries out President Trump’s March executive order declaring English the official language of the U.S. and revoking the Clinton policy that had promoted other languages alongside English.
“President Trump’s Executive Order marks a pivotal step toward unifying our nation through a common language and enhancing efficiency in federal operations,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon.
She said the department respects “linguistic diversity” but said to the extent allowed by law, government money should not be used to promote alternatives to English.
Foremost among the new guidance is an admonition to agencies to “determine which of their programs, grants and policies might serve the public at large better if operated exclusively in English.”
Ms. Bondi and Ms. Dhillon also suggested agencies use any savings from reduced translation costs to fund research on improving English proficiency and assimilation.
Agencies that still deem multilingual services critical were told to include a disclaimer noting that English is the official language for the federal government.
Mr. Trump, in his March order, said English was a unifying force in the U.S. and should be celebrated.
“Establishing English as the official language will not only streamline communication but also reinforce shared national values, and create a more cohesive and efficient society,” he said.
He revoked President Clinton’s 2000 executive order that urged expanded access for “persons with limited English proficiency” but had left it up to agencies to decide what that meant for their own operations.
Ms. Bondi’s guidance suggests potential changes.
