The Department of Housing and Urban Development is making English the sole language used for virtually all of its services and affairs, according to a new memo obtained by The Post.
HUD’s deputy secretary wrote the memo, set to be sent out on Monday, advising department leadership of the changes, in keeping with President Trump’s executive order in March to designate English as the official US language.
“We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission of expanding housing that is affordable, helping those in need, caring for our most vulnerable Americans, and revitalizing rural, tribal, and urban communities,” HUD deputy secretary Andrew Hughes wrote.
Despite the upcoming change, there will still be some instances where other languages may be permitted in HUD services to comply with the law.
Those include accommodations required under the Americans with Disability Act and the Violence Against Women Act, which have nondiscrimination provisions that may apply to language in some situations.
“HUD will continue to ensure that all persons have meaningful access to HUD programs and services,” Hughes stressed, adding that the department also “will continue to provide communication services to the hearing and seeing impaired, and persons with related disabilities.”
Outside of those potential exceptions, HUD will switch to English-only for its services and affairs.
Under previous administrations, HUD sought to accommodate other languages to help low-income legal immigrants to the US who struggled with English.
Prior to the English-only push, HUD touted that it accommodated some 222 languages and had an interpretation line for individuals unable to speak English proficiently, a flyer seen by The Post showed.
Former President Bill Clinton took executive action shortly before leaving office in 2001 to improve the access that people with limited English proficiency had to government services.
Trump’s March executive order to make English the official US language revoked Clinton’s directive and noted that “nothing in this order, however, requires or directs any change in the services provided by any agency.”
Following guidance from the Justice Department, HUD decided that the best way to implement Trump’s executive order was to roll back other language translations, which some officials in the housing agency believe will save taxpayer dollars.
The new changes at HUD are set to be “effective immediately,” and the department will begin scrubbing some of the translated materials provided on its website in what Hughes described as an “ongoing and iterative” implementation process.
“All HUD communications, correspondence, and physical and digital published materials will be produced exclusively in English and that we will no longer offer non-English translation services,” Hughes’ memo states.
“Additionally, please immediately remove all printed or digital collateral about non-English translation services currently displayed in HUD offices or HUD-funded facilities. Printed or digital collateral not in English can be replaced with an English-only version.”
The department also plans to conduct a review of English translation service contracts.
Last month, the DOJ blasted out guidance to all federal agencies last month on how to best carry out Trump’s executive order.
In about six months, the DOJ will provide agencies with updated guidance and allow time for public comment to determine whether or not further adjustments are warranted.
