The State of Official English Report – Summer 2026

Momentum Continues to Grow

Throughout the summer, there have been several positive developments for Official English.

The Supreme Court issued a critical decision that will impact English fluency for truckers. This has been a key issue for ProEnglish, and we’ve been promoting several other important policy reforms that will help keep our roads safe.

Multiple federal agencies have implemented and enforced new English language policies, showing further commitment to President Trump’s March 2025 executive order mandating English as our national language.

At the legislative level, new cosponsors are signing on to legislation that would make English the official language of government operations. Meanwhile, at the state level, we saw two positive developments in Idaho and Ohio for official English laws.

We break everything down in our latest edition of the “State of Official English – Summer 2026.”

Supreme Court Rules Trucking Brokers Can Be Held Liable for Accidents

In mid-May, the Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in Montgomery v. Caribe Transport, ruling that trucking brokers can be sued by individuals injured in a crash involving a trucking company they’ve hired for a job. This was an important decision, because it means trucking brokers will be less likely to hire drivers who they suspect come from CDL mills and lack proficiency in English.

We’ve seen multiple tragedies involving road collisions caused by truck drivers who are unable to speak English and correctly interpret road signs. This was a major win and will keep our roads more secure.

Dept. of Labor Strengthens English Proficiency Requirements for Truckers Seeking Work Visas

In June, the US Department of Labor announced the inclusion of new English language proficiency requirements for work visas related to commercial motor vehicle operators. Under the new regulations, employers are required to submit a job order and application to the Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification verifying both economic need and that foreign truck drivers seeking a visa are proficient in English.

This is an important step toward ensuring that new foreign workers can read road signage and communicate effectively with their fellow drivers, a critical element in avoiding accidents and keeping our roads safe.

Operation Highway Shield

In early August, the Trump administration announced the results of a three-day crackdown by the Trump administration to expose illegal immigration in the trucking industry. The crackdown, dubbed “Operation Highway Shield”, uncovered 36 English-language proficiency violations among truck drivers stopped.

These findings are disturbing, and could indicate there are thousands of additional truckers on the road who lack English proficiency. The Trump administration has also stated that it will instruct Department of Homeland Security agents to begin investigating CDL schools. You can read more on this developing initiative here.

OMB Includes English-Language Requirement for Federal Grant Announcements

In late May, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced a rules change mandating an English-language requirement to be included in all federal funding announcements. This move came as part of several reforms that govern the distribution of up to one trillion dollars in federal grant funding, including mandatory E-Verify to ensure all recipients are legally in the country.

OMB Director Russ Vought also issued additional rules which strengthen oversight of federal grants, including giving political appointees final approval authority over awards. ProEnglish supports these changes as another step toward fully implementing President Trump’s executive order designating English as the official language of the United States.

Official English on November Ballot in Idaho

This November, Idaho voters will vote on House Joint Resolution (HJR) 6, a ballot measure that, if passed, would add English as the official language into the state constitution. This ballot measure would strengthen state code (73-121), which already designates English as the official state language of Idaho.

This is a unique opportunity for the state of Idaho to permanently enshrine Official English into law, and we’ll be doing everything within our power to raise awareness so it passes into law.

Ohio’s Official English Bill Referred to Committee

In late May, a bill that would designate English as Ohio’s official language was referred to committee in the House of Representatives. Introduced by Representative Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Township), H.B. 825 would designate English as the official language of government operations in Ohio. If passed, Ohio would become the 33rd state to codify Official English.

Establishing English as the official language at the state level promotes clarity, efficiency, and accountability in public administration. It can also help reduce unnecessary taxpayer expense by limiting the cost of translating state documents and materials.

ProEnglish will continue to monitor its progress and support its advancement through the legislative process.

H.R. 1772 Receives Four New Sponsors

Since our last report, we are pleased to announce that four new cosponsors have signed H.R.1772: Rep. Clay Fuller (R–GA-14), Rep. Mike Collins (R–GA-10), Rep. Rick Allen (R–GA-12), and Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA-9).

At ProEnglish, we’ve strongly advocated for this bill’s passage since its introduction by Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL-4) in March 2025. If passed, this bill would codify English as the official language of government operations and turn President Trump’s executive order into federal law.

As momentum builds behind this critical piece of legislation, please visit our action center and send a message to your member of Congress asking them to support H.R. 1772.

Looking ahead 

Throughout the summer, we’ve seen significant progress in the fight for Official English. From cracking down on English proficiency violations in the trucking industry and implementing new federal policies that build on President Trump’s executive order, to lawmakers at both the federal and state levels taking action, the movement to make English the official language of the United States continues to gain momentum.

With the midterm election on the horizon, we must keep our foot on the pedal. Read this op-ed from ProEnglish Executive Director Ellen Hamilton-Cotten that outlines why our supporters must continue to make this an issue with our local and federal representatives this election season.

Please check back for additional updates on pending legislation, new developments, and ways you can support our cause. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X, and Truth Social, and if you can, please consider supporting our work.