The Department of Housing and Urban Development is moving to make English the sole language used in nearly all its services and communications, according to a memo obtained by the New York Post.
HUD Deputy Secretary Andrew Hughes, who authored the memo, said the move aligns with President Donald Trump’s March executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, according to the New York Post.
“We are one people, united, and we will speak with one voice and one language to deliver on our mission,” Hughes wrote. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Trump’s Housing Sec Wants To Take A Sledgehammer To Bureaucratic ‘Red Tape’)
The English-only policy will apply broadly across HUD’s services, websites, and published materials. HUD plans to remove existing non-English flyers and digital resources, while reviewing contracts for translation services. Hughes said the department will still comply with federal law where language accommodations are required, including under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Violence Against Women Act.
Previously, HUD offered assistance in more than 222 languages to help legal immigrants and others with limited English proficiency access housing programs, according to a flyer seen by the New York Post. Clinton-era policies encouraged broader language access, but Trump’s executive order revoked that directive, noting it did not mandate changes to existing agency services.
Hughes said HUD will continue to ensure all individuals have meaningful access to programs and will maintain services for hearing- and vision-impaired persons. The department described the rollout as “ongoing and iterative,” with the new English-only policy set to take effect immediately.
The DOJ has issued guidance to federal agencies on implementing Trump’s order and plans to solicit public comment in about six months on any further adjustments.
