DOJ Publishes Guidance on Prioritizing English as Official Language

July 22, 2025

What's New

The Department of Justice published guidance outlining how federal agencies should implement Executive Order 14224. E.O. 14224 designated English as the official language of the United States and rescinded a Clinton-era executive order (E.O. 13166) that promoted governmental services for individuals with limited English proficiency.

DOJ recommends that federal agencies take the following steps:

• review any guidance based on E.O. 13166,
• consider offering services only in English,
• use technology to bridge language barriers,
• include disclaimers that English is the official language of the United States where multilingual services are still used, and
• redirect funds towards promoting English education.

DOJ will issue additional guidance within 180 days to help agencies prioritize English and to explain when multilingual assistance is still necessary.

What It Means

While DOJ doesn’t directly address private sector workplace policies, it notes that “Title VII does not pose a prohibition on employers from establishing English-only workplace rules in some cases.” In contrast, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) has traditionally held the viewpoint that implementing an English-only workplace rule may constitute national origin discrimination in violation of Title VII.

What You Should Do

In anticipation of further DOJ guidance, employers should preliminarily identify language-related policies, positions, or job requirements. Any employer that receives federal financial assistance and is considering amending its language-related policies or services should keep in mind that restrictive language policies can lead to potential liability under Title VII.

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