Published November 13, 2026 · By
The English only directive published by the Justice Department this week tells federal agencies to "strive to operate solely in English" and to review, and in many cases end, translation and interpretation services that are not required by law. The memo, posted in the Federal Register on Thursday, November 12, 2026, puts into practice President Trump's March 2025 executive order that made English the official language of the United States.
A Justice Department spokesperson said the English only directive is final and already in effect, even as a 60-day public comment period runs until January 11, 2027. Here is what the memo says, how agencies are already responding, what supporters and critics have said, and what it could mean for you.
What the English Only Directive Says
The document is titled as an attorney general memorandum on implementing English as the official language, and it was published with a request for information under Federal Register document number 2026-22966. According to The Washington Sun, the guidance was first sent to agencies in September and made public for the first time on Thursday.
The memo states that English has served as the country's common language since before its founding. As reported by The Hill, it concludes that agencies "should prioritize the English language over all other languages." The English only directive then lists the kinds of material that should be offered in English alone, according to several outlets that reviewed the text:
- Official correspondence and public notices or announcements
- Regulations, forms and applications
- Websites and other digital services
- Outreach and educational materials
- Internal communications
- Artificial intelligence tools used by agencies
The memo singles out websites and digital services as some of the fastest places for agencies to shift to English, according to Breitbart News, which also reviewed the document.
The two exceptions
The guidance allows other languages in two situations. The first is when a multilingual service is required by law, which Breitbart reported includes federal statutes, the Constitution, binding court orders and binding regulations. The second is when another language is necessary to carry out an agency's mission. Examples cited in coverage include national security, health care, law enforcement, immigration enforcement and communication with foreign officials.
Even when an exception applies, the memo tells agencies to use the "least burdensome and most cost-effective method available," Breitbart reported. Agencies are directed to identify every multilingual assistance program they run. If a program is neither legally required nor necessary for the mission, the memo says the agency should drop it in favor of English-only operations, The Hill reported.
How the English Only Directive Builds on the 2025 Executive Order
President Trump signed Executive Order 14224 on March 1, 2025, designating English as the official language of the United States. That order revoked Executive Order 13166, a 2000 directive from President Bill Clinton that required agencies to improve access to services for people with limited English skills. It also instructed the attorney general to update the Justice Department's guidance, which is the step this week's memo completes.
The 2025 order itself said it did not require any change in the services agencies provide, and that agency heads did not have to stop offering documents or services in other languages. Outlets differ in how they describe the new memo's relationship to that language. The Washington Sun said the guidance reasserts the order, while Conservative Daily News said it goes further by urging agencies to wind down translations that are not required.
The Hill noted that the Justice Department already conducts most of its business in English and has done so under administrations of both parties. It also pointed out that the department's Civil Rights Division enforces Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act, which sets language requirements for election materials in certain jurisdictions. Because that requirement is in federal law, it falls under the memo's legal exception.
Agencies Already Cutting Translations
Several agencies have already moved in the direction the English only directive describes. The General Services Administration shut down the Spanish-language version of USA.gov this week and began redirecting visitors to the English site, according to The Washington Sun. The Spanish site had operated since 2003. A GSA spokesperson told the outlet that the agency will follow all directives from President Trump as part of its effort to put America first.
The memo itself says the Department of Housing and Urban Development removed non-English languages from its services in August, Breitbart reported. It also says the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education and the Treasury Department have begun removing non-English materials from their websites.
How many people could be affected
More than 27 million people in the United States have limited English proficiency, according to figures cited by The Washington Sun and Conservative Daily News. That group includes citizens and lawful permanent residents as well as other immigrants, and it is the population most likely to rely on translated forms, websites and phone lines.
Reactions From Supporters and Critics
The administration has framed the English only directive as a way to promote a shared national language, and the memo stresses cost-effective methods where translation continues. The 2025 executive order argued that a single official language encourages civic unity and helps new Americans participate in public life. Breitbart News described the memo as speeding up the order's rollout across federal agencies.
Language access experts raised concerns about the English only directive. Jacob Hofstetter, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute who focuses on language access, told The Washington Sun he expects more agencies to take down multilingual content. Michael Mulé, a civil rights attorney who spent 15 years in the Justice Department's civil rights office, said cutting translations could interfere with the government's own work, using the example of an FBI tip line that should be open to anyone with information about a crime.
Mulé also told the outlet that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 has long been read to require language access from states and other entities that receive federal money. How the English only directive interacts with that interpretation is one of the questions likely to come up during the comment period. As of Friday afternoon, the reports reviewed for this article did not include formal statements from congressional leaders of either party on the memo.
What the English Only Directive Means for You
For most English speakers, the effects of the English only directive may be hard to notice. For families who rely on translated materials, it could change how they file forms, look up benefits or reach a federal office. The points below are our own analysis based on the reporting above.
Expect fewer translated websites and forms
Websites are named as a top priority, so translated pages may disappear first. If you or a relative use a non-English version of a federal website, consider saving or printing key instructions now. The shutdown of the Spanish USA.gov site shows these changes can happen with little notice.
Some services are still protected by law
The English only directive keeps exceptions for services required by statute or court order and for areas such as health care and law enforcement. Election materials covered by Section 203 of the Voting Rights Act remain required by federal law. If you are told help is not available, it is reasonable to ask whether the service falls under a legal requirement.
Benefits, taxes and paperwork
The Treasury Department is among the agencies the memo lists as removing non-English web materials. Anyone who handles taxes, benefits or loans for a family member with limited English may want to allow extra time and plan for help from a bilingual relative, a community group or a professional. Our guide on ITIN personal loans for immigrants explains other paperwork hurdles newcomers face, and our coverage of Medicaid work requirements outlines rules that take effect in January.
You can comment on the English only directive
Because the memo was published with a request for information, the public can submit comments through the Federal Register notice until January 11, 2027. Supporters and opponents alike can use that window to describe how the English only directive would affect them, their business or their community.
What Happens Next
Agencies are expected to keep reviewing their multilingual programs under the English only directive, and more websites may shift to English in the coming weeks. The Justice Department will receive public comments through early January. Whether courts or Congress weigh in on how the policy fits with existing civil rights law remains to be seen.
This article is for information only and is not legal or financial advice.
Sources: Federal Register (document 2026-22966); White House, Executive Order 14224; The Hill; The Washington Sun; Breitbart News; Conservative Daily News.
