Rep. Chu, CAPAC Chair Meng, & House Colleagues Express Outrage and Demand Accountability as Trump Administration Limits Access to Government Services for Limited English Proficient Taxpayers
Members slam President Trump’s decision to target language accessibility: “There is no data that supports the assertion made by your administration that linguistical diversity threatens the integrity of the nation… [by] withdrawing guidance that helps to provide meaningful language accessibility, your administration risks disconnecting millions of limited English proficient people across the United States from government services.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. — As reported in NOTUS yesterday, Rep. Judy Chu (CA-28) and Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Rep. Grace Meng (NY-06), led 54 other House Democratic colleagues in condemning President Trump’s recent decision to weaken language accessibility protections within the federal government. In a letter sent to the President and the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Members requested swift answers from the administration regarding the impacts this decision will have on limited English proficient communities and what steps are being taken to ensure essential services meant for every taxpayer, no matter what primary language they speak, are not disrupted.
On March 1, 2025, President Trump announced an Executive Order (EO) that declared English as the official language of the United States and rescinded EO 13166, a Clinton-era policy that had been in place for the past 25 years, requiring agencies and recipients of federal funding to provide meaningful language accessibility. Under EO 13166, all federal agencies and institutions, from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to health care services to universities to the legal system, were required to provide language translation, interpretation, and accessibility services. President Trump’s decision to revoke this EO threatens the federal government’s compliance and enforcement of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and needlessly jeopardizes millions of Americans’ access government services, resources, and programs.
In the letter addressed to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi, the Members detail the harms of rescinding EO 13166 and call attention to concerning reports that language accessibility services are already being affected: “More than 25.7 million individuals in the United States – over 8% of the population –are limited English proficient…Language barriers can pose a significant obstacle for individuals attempting to integrate into our society and access public services and institutions, including health care, emergency preparedness, the legal system, schools, and employment. All Americans deserve to access the services and resources their taxes are paying for without barriers based solely on language proficiency.”
Of the limited English proficient (LEP) population, 20% are residents of California, 14% of Texas, and 12% in Florida. With more than 350 languages spoken across the country, language barriers within government can pose insurmountable obstacles for individuals attempting to integrate and access public services and institutions, including health care, emergency preparedness, the legal system, schools, and employment.
“By [revoking EO 13166], your administration is no longer detailing the language accessibility regulations or policies that agencies must follow, risking systemic noncompliance with civil rights laws and jeopardizing the quality of language services or translated materials these agencies provide,” they continue. “Additionally, we have received reports that the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, has cancelled at least ten contracts that provided federal agencies with language or translation services. This is including a contract that provided translation services to Americans or businesses calling the Department of Homeland Security about their employment status or benefits, leading to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services directing employees to discontinue any call when they are not fluent in the caller’s language.”
Since the Lau v. Nichols decision in 1974, the Supreme Court has held that discrimination against people with limited English proficiency is a type of national origin discrimination. As a result, the Members demanded accountability and answers from the Trump Administration: “We have serious concerns that your decision to rescind EO 13166, and remove language accessibility guidance, will reduce the availability of language services and translated materials across the federal government. Consequently, we seek information to confirm that your administration is ensuring that language accessibility for Americans with LEP remains a priority and language translation services are not disrupted.”
Click here to access the full letter.