The Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) opposes the U.S. Presidential Executive Order issued on March 1, 2025, which designates English as the official language of the United States. This action rescinds President Clinton’s Executive Order 13166 of August 11, 2000, Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency and ignores a long American tradition of multilingualism.
The mission of the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) is to promote language learning and cultural understanding by serving as a trusted source for research, resources, and policy analysis. Through its work, CAL seeks solutions to issues involving language and culture as they relate to access and equity in education and society around the globe.
Multilingualism is our national treasure and asset that was recognized at the founding of our country. We also acknowledge, honor, and respect the native and Indigenous languages and cultures that existed long before there was a United States of America.
The ability to speak multiple languages is both a personal and societal asset. Multilingual individuals strengthen our position in the global economy and contribute immeasurably to efforts toward peaceful diplomacy. Students who learn in two languages have stronger educational outcomes than those who learn only in English.
Language access benefits us all. Our society is strengthened when our neighbors have access to healthcare, education, housing, and emergency services in languages that they can understand.
CAL’s work is guided by our core values, grounded in scientific research and understandings:
- Languages and cultures are important individual and societal resources.
- All languages, dialects, and cultures deserve to be respected and cultivated.
- Multilingualism is beneficial for individuals and society.
- Effective language education should be widely available.
- Accurate information should be the basis for policies and practices that involve language and culture.
- Language skills and cultural knowledge should be valued in work situations.
- Language and cultural differences should not be obstacles to personal or group success or well-being.
This Executive Order minimizes our linguistic asset as a multilingual nation, will set us back economically and politically, and has the potential of denying the language rights of millions of Americans.
It has no force of law and in no way diminishes the rights and responsibilities of individuals and institutions set forth in federal education and civil rights statutes because it does not reflect our country’s multilingual and multicultural history, present, or future.
Board of Trustees | Center for Applied Linguistics
—
Note: CAL stands in solidarity with those who advocate for language rights for all, including the organizations listed below that have issued statements at the following links:
American Association for Applied Linguistics (AAAL)
https://www.aaal.org/aaal-ec-statement-on-the-executive-order-designating-english-as-the-official-language-of-the-united-states
American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL)
https://www.actfl.org/news/actfl-statement-on-designating-english-as-official-language
Asian Americans Advancing Justice (AAJC)
https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/press-release/asian-americans-advancing-justice-condemns-president-trumps-executive-order
Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC)
https://capac.house.gov/press-release/joint-statement-tri-caucus-chairs-president-trumps-executive-order-declaring-english
Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)
https://jacl.org/statements/jacl-statement-on-executive-order-designating-english-as-the-official-language-of-the-us
Linguistic Society of America (LSA)
https://www.lsadc.org/lsa-statement-against-designating-english-as-the-official-language
National Association for Bilingual Education (NABE)
https://nabe.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/45/2025/03/NABE-PressRelease-English-Only-Executive-Order-6Mar2025-1.pdf
Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
https://searac.org/news/executive-order-designating-english-as-official-language-harms-southeast-asian-american-communities
Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)
https://www.tesol.org/news/tesol-statement-on-the-exec-order-designating-english-as-the-official-language-of-the-us
The Century Foundation
https://tcf.org/content/commentary/tcfs-conor-williams-on-trumps-shameful-english-language-executive-order
United We Dream
https://unitedwedream.org/press/immigrant-youth-react-to-news-of-trumps-official-language-eo-no-gracias
