On March 1, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14224 designating English as the official language of the United States and revoking EO 13166, an executive order from 2000 aimed at improving language access. On this episode of the ATA Podcast, co-host Adam Sachs questions Dr. Bill Rivers on the order, its effects on language access, and how it affects language services providers. Dr. Rivers joins us with experience spanning over 30 years of research, advocacy, and work in translation and language access, and this episode thoroughly examines the new EO using his insights and expertise.
Following EO 14224 being issued, six of the nation’s leading professional T&I organizations issued a joint statement opposing the order. ATA stands with its members and the communities we serve, and ensuring language access for limited-English-proficient (LEP) individuals is a key part of ATA’s mission. Voice your support for language access provisions by contacting your representatives and ensuring that the LEPs you engage with are aware of their language access rights, and listen to the ATA Podcast to stay informed and vigilant about this consequential topic and to hear other ways ATA is pushing back and standing up for language access.
Show Notes:
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Audio Production: Derek Platts | Technical Support: Trenton Morgan, Teresa Kelly