Leading Language Organizations Oppose Executive Order 14224, Warn of Potential Consequences
ATA, together with five of the nation’s leading professional organizations from the language services sector across the United States, has issued a joint statement strongly opposing President Trump’s Executive Order 14224, which designates English as the official language of the U.S. and revokes Executive Order 13166. The revoked order, in place since 2000, had been a crucial safeguard ensuring access to federal, state, and local services for limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals, as protected under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The coalition of organizations, which collectively represents nearly 28,000 language professionals, warns that Executive Order 14224 undermines civil rights and creates significant barriers for millions of residents who rely on language services in healthcare, the legal system, education, and business.
A Step Backward for Civil Rights
Approximately 25.7 million people in the U.S. are limited-English-proficient (LEP), and over 68 million use a language other than English at home. This linguistic diversity is a fundamental aspect of the nation’s identity. However, by revoking Executive Order 13166, the administration has weakened crucial protections, making it more difficult for individuals to access critical information about healthcare, legal rights, and public services.
Revoking language access protections does not unify the country—it excludes millions of Americans from essential services and undermines their ability to fully participate in society. Language diversity has always been a strength of the U.S., and this decision is a step in the wrong direction.
Impact on Healthcare, Justice, and Education
The executive order’s repercussions are expected to be felt across multiple sectors:
Healthcare:
LEP individuals already face increased risks of medical errors due to language barriers. With the rollback of language access guidance, patients may struggle to receive accurate diagnoses and treatment, leading to poorer health outcomes.
Legal System:
Language access is essential for due process. Without it, LEP individuals may not understand their rights, face wrongful convictions, or struggle to navigate the legal system.
Education:
Approximately 5 million schoolchildren live in LEP households. Parental involvement in education is key to student success, but language barriers make it harder for families to engage with schools and advocate for their children.
Economic Consequences
Beyond civil rights concerns, restricting language access poses economic risks. Small businesses, many owned by immigrants and non-English speakers, rely on language services to comply with regulations, hire employees, and contribute to local economies. Additionally, industries that depend on a diverse workforce, such as manufacturing and healthcare, benefit from language inclusion. The removal of language access protections could hinder economic growth and limit opportunities for millions of workers and business owners.
Call to Action
The coalition urges the administration to rescind Executive Order 14224 and reaffirm its commitment to language access policies that protect civil rights and promote economic and social integration.
As language professionals, we will continue to advocate for the rights of LEP individuals and ensure they have access to the services they need. We encourage the public to join us in opposing this harmful executive order and to support policies that foster inclusivity and equal opportunity.
About the Signatories
The joint statement was drafted by the following organizations:
American Translators Association (ATA)
American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education (AAITE)
Association of Language Companies (ALC)
Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
National Association of Judiciary Interpreters and Translators (NAJIT)
Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf (RID)
Together, these organizations represent thousands of professionals dedicated to ensuring language access and linguistic diversity in the U.S.
Trump Signs Executive Order Making English the Official Language of the U.S.
NPR (3/1/25) By Elena Moore
President Trump signed an executive order on March 1 designating English as the official language of the United States, the first such designation in the country’s history.
According to a White House fact sheet, the order rescinds a policy issued by former President Bill Clinton requiring agencies to provide assistance programs for limited-English-proficient individuals. The order allows agencies to voluntarily keep those support systems in place.
“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 order states.
English is already the official language in more than 30 states, but Trump’s executive order comes at a time when the number of people in the U.S. who speak languages other than English continues to grow. According to 2022 data from the U.S. Census Bureau, roughly one in 10 people now speak a language other than English, more than triple the amount compared to 1980.
Trump’s order echoes a longtime campaign pledge and is a move the White House said will “promote unity, cultivate a shared American culture for all citizens, ensure consistency in government operations, and create a pathway to civic engagement.”
Some advocacy organizations say the order will hurt immigrant communities and those looking for assistance learning English.
Roman Palomares, who heads the League of United Latin American Citizens, criticized the Trump administration’s move in a statement issued ahead of the order’s official signing.
“Our Founding Fathers enshrined freedom of speech in the First Amendment without limiting it to one language. They envisioned a nation where diversity of thought, culture, and expression would be its greatest strength,” Palomares wrote. “Declaring English as the only official language directly contradicts that vision. America thrives when we embrace inclusivity, not when we silence the voices of millions who contribute to its success.”
Canadian Government Hopes New Graduate Program in Conference Interpreting Will Address Interpreter Shortage
Public Services and Procurement Canada (2/25/25) By Mathis Denis
To address the shortage of conference interpreters at the federal level, the Translation Bureau, which is part of Public Services and Procurement Canada, and the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) have partnered to create a specialized graduate diploma (DESS) in conference interpreting. The two-year program, offered entirely online, will launch in the fall of 2025.
The goal of the program is to increase the number of interpreters to meet the needs of the Parliament of Canada and the departments and agencies of the Canadian government. The Translation Bureau and UQTR will work closely to train students and guide them toward job opportunities. Notably, the Translation Bureau will provide teaching support, workplace learning opportunities, and admission to its accreditation exam.
“The interpreting needs are so great that an institution like parliament could see its operations disrupted due to a lack of staff,” said UQTR President Christian Blanchette. “We are stepping up to make a difference. I am proud of our teams who have put in tremendous effort to create this specialized graduate diploma.”
“The government of Canada is proud to partner with the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières to launch this new interpreting program,” said Jean-Yves Duclos, minister of Public Services and Procurement Canada. “This initiative not only addresses the shortage of interpreters in our country but also reinforces our commitment to supporting bilingualism and ensuring that all Canadians can access information in the official language of their choice. By investing in interpreter training, we enable the Translation Bureau to continue providing high-quality services to parliament, the government of Canada, and all Canadians.”
Trump Education Department Decimates Office Serving 5 Million English Learners in Public Schools
Chalkbeat (3/21/25) By Kalyn Belsh
President Trump has declared English the official language of the United States. But his administration has fired nearly every Education Department staffer who ensured states and schools properly spent the hundreds of millions of dollars earmarked to help over five million students learning English.
It appears that just one staffer remains from the Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) after the Trump administration announced it would cut the Education Department staff in half.
“Your organizational unit is being abolished along with all positions within the unit – including yours,” an official with the department’s human resources team told the terminated OELA staffers in a March 12 email. Two days later, an administration official told state officials that the department’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education would take over the OELA.
Advocates for English learners and outgoing Education Department staffers worry the deep cuts to the OELA will have serious effects on students, families, and school staff. Without a dedicated office to oversee spending, they fear federal dollars won’t reach the English learners they’re intended to serve and that the quality of teacher training will suffer.
“There won’t be any more staff to provide guardrails on the federal funding,” said one former OELA staffer. “Ultimately, it will affect the quality of education that English learners get across the nation.”
Hayley Sanon, the acting assistant secretary for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, told state education officials in a March 14 letter that her office would manage Title III funds for English learners, as it did prior to December 2023. She also said formula funding under the nation’s main federal education law, which includes money for English learners, “will continue to flow normally, and program functions will not be disrupted.”
“The Department is committed to fulfilling its statutory obligation to prepare English learners to attain English proficiency and develop high levels of academic achievement in English,” wrote Sanon, who is also the principal deputy assistant secretary at the department.
Public Sector Interpreting in the U.K. May Be About to Change
Slator (3/21/25) By Alex Edwards
The U.K.’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has published details of a proposed new framework for public service interpreting, which includes recommended changes to the existing qualifications and experience required of public service interpreters in England and Scotland beginning in October 2026.
The proposed new framework has been published as part of an independent technical review on public service interpreting, which stated: “The need to provide a service […] across a wide range of core and rare languages has led to different standards being applied to different languages.”
The goal of the recommendations is to simplify and clarify the current three-tier service classification of public interpreting (standard, complex, and complex-written) into two tiers (professional and community).
Under the existing model—described as “overly complicated” and “opaque”—interpreters are registered into the three tiers based on “core” and “rare” languages, or by their native language (English vs. non-English).
The independent review stated: “This unclear differentiation between standards is a key concern of the interpreting community and has diminished public service interpreters’ willingness to engage with the MoJ contract. It has resulted in the profession perceiving that professional standards are at best being eroded, at worst ignored.”
The review recognized that while “no evidence has been seen to suggest that current arrangements are seriously compromising the quality of interpreting service provided, […] current requirements, in some cases, allow interpreters to provide services with no prior interpreting experience, which poses a serious and substantial risk to quality and the due process of assignments and case handling.”
New UNESCO Report Calls for Multilingual Education to Unlock Learning and Inclusion
UNESCO (2/18/25)
A new report by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Languages Matter: Global Guidance on Multilingual Education, highlights the urgent need to include multilingualism in education systems so that children learn in a language they understand.
Today, 40% of people globally lack access to education in the language they speak and understand fluently. In some low- and middle-income countries, this figure rises to 90%. More than a quarter of a billion learners are affected.
As migration increases, linguistic diversity is becoming a global reality, and classrooms with learners from diverse language backgrounds are more common. Over 31 million displaced youth are facing language barriers in education.
The report states that languages also play a vital role in shaping cultural identity, and multilingual education is important as it preserves linguistic diversity and knowledge systems. This is particularly true for Indigenous languages and cultures, which are often spoken in biodiversity-rich regions, preserving traditional knowledge and values.
The report provides guidance to Ministries of Education and key educational stakeholders on how to implement multilingual education policies and practices, with the goal of creating educational systems that benefit all learners.
Tennessee Rejects English-Only Driver’s License Exam Bill
WBIR (3/19/25) By Lauren Davis
A bill that would have required all written driver’s license exams in Tennessee to be administered only in English and prohibited the use of interpreters and electronic devices failed in a House subcommittee. This is the second year in a row the proposed legislation failed.
Tennessee currently offers written driver’s license exams in five languages: English, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, and German.
“This bill ensures that every driver on our roads can read, understand, and respond to traffic signs and hazards,” said State Representative Kip Capley, who introduced the legislation. “If someone cannot read or understand road signs, they not only risk their own safety but that of all drivers.”
Noah Jones, director of communications and development for Bridge Refugee Services, said the legislation would limit the number of refugees who can get their licenses.
“Our clients are trying as fast as possible to get into the workforce, and that helps them get off other strained social services. To put up a roadblock like this for any non-English speaker, even by somebody who may be a native speaker but not an English reader—it doesn’t make sense,” Jones said. “There is a way to make a technological accommodation for this that ensures a fair and safe test.”
Nominations for ATA’s 2025 Elections Due March 28!
Do you know someone who would make a good potential candidate for ATA’s Board of Directors? If so, ATA’s Nominating and Leadership Development Committee would like to hear from you. Any ATA member may make a nomination. Here’s your chance to help shape the future of the Association!
Nominations are open for the following positions:
- President-Elect (two-year term).
- Secretary (two-year term).
- Treasurer (two-year term).
- Director (three positions, each for a three-year term).
Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting of Voting Members during ATA’s 66th Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, October 22-25, 2025.
Who Is Eligible to be Nominated?
Under ATA’s Bylaws, all Active members of ATA are eligible to run for elected office. Active members are those who have passed an ATA certification exam or who are established as having achieved professional status through Active Membership Review or through the Credentialed Interpreter recognition process.
Active members must be citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. Other member categories are not eligible to serve as officers or directors. However, any member may submit a nomination.
Members of the Nominating and Leadership Development Committee are not eligible to run for elected office.
Submitting Your Nomination
Any ATA member may submit a nomination. Self-nominations are also permitted and encouraged. Members may make a nomination using the online form on the elections page on ATA’s website. Nominations must be received by March 28, 2025.
Celebrate Your Passion and Profession at ATA66!
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A limited number of rooms at the Westin Boston Seaport Hotel (Conference Headquarters hotel) have been reserved at a discount for attendees. ATA rates are available until September 29, or as space allows.
Stay and Win! Book your room at the Westin and you’ll be entered to win one free night. Five winners will be selected! ATA will pay one night of your existing hotel reservation (single/double rate, room and tax only). No cash payment or reimbursement will occur.
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Do you ever want to ask someone how to handle a business-related issue? ATA’s Business Practices Community will give you answers!
Join our online email discussion list to ask questions and share your business expertise. With around 900 members, the Business Practices Community is here to support your business endeavors. It’s one of the free services included in your ATA membership. To find out more and join the group, visit the Business Practices Community.
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Both of ATA’s business practices blogs, The Savvy Newcomer and Next Level, need your help to keep providing helpful information to newcomers and experienced professionals. Please consider sharing your expertise by writing an article – or introduce us to someone who is a great businessperson and a great writer. To send a pitch or ask about submitting an article, contact us at atabizpractices@atanet.org.
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Learn More about the Mentoring Program
English into Arabic Certification Exam Needs Graders!
Currently, ATA’s English into Arabic certification exam is suspended as we seek new graders to support this language pair. Our certification program thrives thanks to the dedication of member volunteers, and we’re looking for qualified professionals to help ensure its continued success. While the English into Arabic exam is temporarily unavailable, practice tests remain available for those preparing to take the exam when it is offered again in the future.
If you’re ATA-certified in English into Arabic and interested in becoming a grader to help reinstate this language pair, we’d love to hear from you! Please email certification@atanet.org with a copy of your CV.
April 3
ATA Webinar Presented by Philippe Mercier
Wordscope + ChatGPT for Translators
April 8
ATA Webinar Presented by Florencia Russo
From Words to Workflows: Mastering Translation Tech for Peak Performance
April 12
ATA Webinar Presented by Chris Guichot de Fortis
Professional Performance, All the Time! Part 3
April 15
ATA Webinar Presented by Mijal Guinguis
Vocal Excellence in Conference Interpreting: Tools for Sustainability and Efficiency
April 17
Virtual Brainstorm Networking
April 26
ATA Member Benefits Meet-Up
June 10
ATA Webinar Presented by Paula Ianelli
Strategies for Excellence in Remote Simultaneous Interpreting
See ATA’s Online Calendar for translation & interpreting events around the world.
Virtual Conference Postponed until 2026
The Virtual Conference, originally scheduled for May 20 – 22, 2025, has been postponed to 2026.
Rescheduling the Virtual Conference will provide us with the additional time necessary to ensure the event meets the high standards for which we strive. Shifting the schedule will also allow ATA to focus its efforts on the important business of advocacy and other urgent matters facing the language industry at this time (e.g., accessibility, diversity, etc.). We’ll let you know the new date for the Virtual Conference as soon as it’s finalized. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility in this matter.
We’re grateful to Virtual Conference Co-Chairs Bridget Hylak and Christina Green. Their hard work has gone a long way to lay a good foundation for a successful 2026 Virtual Conference.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to ATA President Geoff Koby at president@atanet.org.
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