Trump designates English as official language of US

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump on Sunday designated English as the official language of the United States, saying it would bring cohesion to a country characterized by immigration from around the world.

The White House published an executive order by Trump which says it is “long past time” that English is declared as the nation´s official language. “A nationally designated language is at the core of a unified and cohesive society, and the United States is strengthened by a citizenry that can freely exchange ideas in one shared language,” the document states.

The order revokes a presidential mandate from the 1990s under then-president Bill Clinton requiring federal agencies and agencies receiving federal funding to provide assistance to non-English speakers.

According to the new document, agencies will still have flexibility to decide how much help to offer in languages other than English. “Nothing in this order... requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency,” the executive order states.

It adds that agency heads are empowered to determine what is necessary “to fulfill their respective agencies´ mission and efficiently provide Government services to the American people.”