Trucker Tongue-Tied: Trump's English Mandate

Donald Trump's proposed executive order mandating English language proficiency for federal employees and contractors is a thinly veiled attack on immigrant workers and a broader assault on the working class. The order, couched in the rhetoric of efficiency and national unity, aims to exclude immigrants, particularly those from non-English speaking backgrounds, from accessing government jobs and contracts, regardless of their skills or qualifications. The article argues that this policy is inherently discriminatory, creating a linguistic barrier to employment and effectively barring a significant portion of the workforce from participating in the public sector. This measure isn't about genuine improvements in government services; it's a tool to drive down wages and create a cheaper, more exploitable workforce by increasing competition for fewer jobs. Furthermore, the order is seen as a component of a broader strategy to cultivate nationalism and division within the working class, diverting attention from the fundamental issues of economic inequality and exploitation. By scapegoating immigrant workers, the Trump administration seeks to consolidate its political base and suppress any potential for unified working-class resistance against capitalist policies. The proposal signifies an intensification of the attack on democratic rights and an escalation of anti-immigrant sentiment. find the original article here: https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/05/05/truc-m05.html