The Department of Housing and Urban Development will use English for all department business and services, according to a memo from Deputy Secretary Andrew Hughes and an announcement by Secretary Scott Turner. The move follows President Trump’s March 2025 executive order designating English the official U.S. language, with exceptions where federal law requires other languages.
HUD adopts English-only policy for agency services
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will conduct its business and services in English only, according to a memo sent to department leadership on Monday, August 18, 2025, by Deputy Secretary Andrew Hughes. The memo was first reported by the New York Post.
On Tuesday, HUD Secretary Scott Turner confirmed the change in a post on X, writing that “HUD will solely use English for all Departmental business and services.”
The policy implements President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order designating English as the official language of the United States. That order also revoked a 2000 executive order, signed by President Bill Clinton, that directed federal agencies to provide language assistance to people with limited English proficiency.
The memo, as reported by the New York Post, said the department would “speak with one voice and one language.”
What changes
HUD had previously said it offered language support in about 222 languages and ran an interpretation line for people who are not proficient in English, according to Fox News. Under the new policy, those multilingual services are being phased out, and translated documents are being removed from the agency’s materials, according to housing industry groups tracking the change.
The change affects materials used across HUD programs, which include public housing, the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) program, Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance and community development grants.
Exceptions
HUD said it will continue to provide other languages where federal law requires them, including under disability law and the Violence Against Women Act, and will continue communication services for people with hearing or vision impairments.
Housing providers that receive federal funding may still have obligations under civil rights laws and under state and local language-access rules, which the federal policy does not override.
The administration’s case
Supporters of the policy say a single official language improves consistency and efficiency in federal programs and reduces spending on translation. The administration has framed the change as carrying out the president’s executive order.
Critics warn of access gaps
Housing advocates and immigrant-service groups say the change could make it harder for residents with limited English proficiency to understand eligibility rules, deadlines, recertifications and appeals. They warn that people may have to rely on relatives or untrained interpreters for important information, and that misunderstandings could lead to lost housing assistance or more disputes.
Some legal advocates have argued that removing translated materials could conflict with civil rights protections against national-origin discrimination, an issue that could be tested in court.
What it means for renters and providers
For tenants and applicants, federal notices and materials from HUD will generally be in English. Local public housing authorities, landlords and nonprofit partners may decide to provide their own translations or interpretation, especially in areas with large immigrant populations or where state and local laws require it.
How the policy works in practice, and whether it faces legal challenges, will become clearer as HUD issues further guidance to its grantees and partners.
Sources: HousingWire, "Report: HUD to adopt English-only policy" (August 18, 2025); Fox News, "HUD chief moves to make English the sole language for all agency business following Trump order" (August 19, 2025)
