Trump To Executive Sign Order Declaring English As Official US Language, Rescinding Clinton-Era Mandate

<p>United States President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order on Friday designating English as the official language of the US, according to the White House. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The order will allow government agencies and organisations receiving federal funding to decide whether to continue offering documents and services in languages other than English, as per a fact sheet on the impending order, news agency AP reported. It was not immediately clear at what time on Friday Trump planned to sign the order. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The move would rescind a mandate issued by former president Bill Clinton, which required government agencies and federally funded organisations to provide language assistance to non-English speakers. According to the White House, designating English as the national language &ldquo;promotes unity, establishes efficiency in government operations, and creates a pathway for civic engagement&rdquo;, as quoted by AP.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>More than 30 U.S. states have already passed laws making English their official language, according to U.S. English, an advocacy group for the cause. For decades, lawmakers in Congress have introduced legislation to designate English as the official U.S. language, but these efforts have not succeeded, as per AP’s report. &nbsp;</p>
<p>Trump has long championed the use of English in public life, making opposition to illegal immigration a central theme of his White House campaigns. During his 2015 presidential run, he criticised Republican rival Jeb Bush for speaking another language on the campaign trail, stating at a news conference in New York, &ldquo;We&rsquo;re a nation that speaks English.&rdquo; &nbsp;</p>
<p>The move follows a pattern set by Trump&rsquo;s administration. Shortly after his inauguration last month, the new government took down the Spanish-language version of the official White House website. The change led to confusion and frustration among Hispanic advocacy groups and others, AP reported. At the time, the White House stated its commitment to restoring the Spanish version of the website, but as of Friday, it remained offline.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Trump had previously shut down the Spanish-language version of the White House website during his first term. It was later restored after Joe Biden took office as US President. &nbsp;</p>
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<h3><strong>Adoption Of English As Official Language A Contentious Issue In Texas</strong></h3>
<p>Adopting English as an official language remains contentious in states like Texas, where the use of Spanish in public life has sparked debate. In 2011, a Texas state senator demanded that an immigrant rights activist speak English instead of Spanish at a legislative hearing, reviving a longstanding discussion on the matter. &nbsp;</p>
<p>The issue has been particularly sensitive for older Mexican-American Texans who recall being punished for speaking Spanish in schools during the 1950s. Texas, which was historically part of Mexico and previously under Spanish rule, continues to grapple with the debate, as per Reuters. &nbsp;</p>