English Official? DOJ Dumps Aid for Limited English Speakers
Published Date: 4/15/2025
Notice
Summary
Starting March 21, 2025, the Department of Justice is canceling its old rules that helped people who don’t speak English well get fair treatment when using federal money. This change follows a new law making English the official language of the U.S. If you get federal funds, you’ll need to follow the new rules, but no new costs or deadlines are announced yet.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Title VI and Rehab Act obligations remain
All recipients of Department federal financial assistance must continue to comply with Title VI and other federal civil rights laws, and with the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 for communications with people with disabilities. The notice explicitly says recipients may need to provide qualified sign language interpreters and that denying language assistance services can be evidence of discrimination based on national origin or disability.
DOJ rescinds 2002 LEP guidance
The Department of Justice rescinded its 2002 Guidance on Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons effective March 21, 2025. If you are a recipient of Department federal financial assistance (including subrecipients), you can no longer rely on that 2002 DOJ LEP Guidance and should follow applicable Title VI law and any updated guidance the Department later issues.
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