Much has been written about the March 1, 2025, Executive Order (EO) establishing English as the official language of the U.S. This EO also revoked Executive Order 13166 issued by President Clinton, where he instructed government agencies to develop formal language access plans.
One of the best, most informative reads on this subject was written by Mara Youdelman of NHELP—the National Health Law Program. Mara has been a tireless advocate of language access for decades and I feel her accolades are well deserved. Her article reinforces my understanding that one government official can’t overturn constitutional protections any more than they can change the truth.
Interestingly, Slator.com reported that the March 1 EO did not revoke President Biden’s EO 14091, Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government. I can imagine it’s only a matter of time until this EO is revoked as well.
What will happen next?
I’ve also heard from colleagues worried about the future. Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented time. However, I am hopeful for the future—I remind people that the sun will still rise tomorrow, and the seasons will still change.
History is full of examples of everyday people being the major force effecting significant change. The Arab Spring of 2010 is a very recent example, and the protests in Poland, leading to the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 another.
Similar struggles happened too in the U.S. There was a bloody civil war followed by excruciatingly cruel policies, but friends and advocates joined forces in peaceful marches leading to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
You have a voice
So, I urge you, dear reader, to make sure your voice is heard. Join or support one of the many industry groups listed at the end of this article. These organizations amplify our voices to advocate for the changes we want to see.
As you advocate, remember that change takes patience and perseverance. I commonly talk with administrators and purchasing agents who don’t really understand the benefit of a certified interpreter, for example. I explain and I advocate, I never get angry, but I never back down.
Now is a time for all of us to advocate—and I hope you will join the effort.
- American Association of Interpreters and Translators in Education (AAITE)
- American Translators Association (ATA)
- Association of Language Companies (ALC)
- Certification Commission for Healthcare Interpreters (CCHI)
- FIT North America
- National Association of Educational Translators and Interpreters of Spoken Languages (NAETISL)
- National Association of Judiciary Interpreter and Translators (NAJIT)
- National Board of Certification for Medical Interpreters (NBCMI)
- National Council on Interpreting in Healthcare (NCIHC)
- Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID)
Richard Antoine, MIB/MBA
Executive Director, InterpreterEd.com