On the Ballot10 Apr 2025

English as the Official Language: Where it already is, and the impact of Trump's Executive Order

On this episode: In 2025, Donald Trump issued an executive order declaring English the official language of the United States. Around the same time, Idaho lawmakers approved a constitutional amendment to do the same at the state level—setting the stage for a 2026 ballot measure. But this push for English-only laws has a much longer history, one shaped by shifting politics, cultural identity debates, and legal challenges that go back decades.

For example — did you know that English is already the official language of 30 states?

First, Idaho Capital Sun reporter Kyle Pfannenstiel explains what’s behind Idaho’s latest move, what supporters hope to achieve, and why opponents are raising concerns. Then, Ballotpedia’s Ryan Byrne walks us through the rise of English-as-official-language laws across the country—how they gained momentum in the 1980s, what kinds of court rulings they’ve triggered, and why many of them turn out to be more symbolic than sweeping. We also unpack how Trump’s executive order fits into the broader landscape—and whether it could spark more state-level action in the years ahead.

Explore the history of these laws: https://ballotpedia.org/History_of_English_as_official_language_ballot_measures_and_laws
Learn about Idaho’s 2026 measure: https://idahocapitalsun.com/2025/03/25/english-could-become-idahos-official-language-under-constitutional-amendment/
Read President’s Trump’s executive order: https://ballotpedia.org/Executive_Order:_Designating_English_as_the_Official_Language_of_The_United_States_(Donald_Trump,_2025)
Sign up for our Newsletters: https://ballotpedia.org/Ballotpedia_Email_Updates

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*On The Ballot is a conversational podcast featuring interviews with guests across the political spectrum. The views and opinions expressed by them are solely their own and are not representative of the views of the host or Ballotpedia as a whole.

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