Breaking the Silence: Strengthening Language Access in Federal and State Policy

In the United States, over 25.7 million people have Limited English Proficiency (LEP), and over 71 million individuals speak a language other than English at home. For many, language barriers act as a “soft wall,” limiting access to health care, disaster relief, voting, and legal protections. Following the 2025 designation of English as the official language through Executive Order 14224—which rescinded prior federal language assistance guidance—a fragmented “patchwork” of access has emerged. This panel will examine the impact of these changes, the continued protections under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, and the urgency of legislative efforts to establish nationwide language access protections.