Language access policy is shifting fast, and the regulations at play are sometimes challenging to follow. We dug in so you don’t have to.
In July 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice issued new guidance that changes how federal agencies approach multilingual services.
The memo, which follows the earlier executive order that made English the official language of the United States, encourages federal agencies to scale back “non-essential” multilingual services and to explore AI as a cost-saving solution. This guidance applies to government agencies only. But even in the private sector, the ripple effects are real.
For healthcare systems, insurers, and other providers already managing high volumes, these changes raise questions like: What’s still required? What’s optional? And how can you continue to provide the best possible service to your communities and customers?
This moment calls for clarity and a smarter approach to scale.
In this post, we break down what’s changed, what it signals for language operations across sectors, and how your organization can become more efficient without sacrificing accuracy or compliance.
What’s Changing, and How AI Fits In
A more comprehensive government-wide plan is expected by early 2026. And while the final policy is still being shaped, one thing is nearly certain: a broad reduction in non-English materials and services is coming, along with a focus on automation and technology wherever legally and operationally feasible to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The July 2025 guidance encourages agencies to adopt machine translation and other AI-driven tools “as soon as possible” to bridge language barriers. Even organizations unsure whether AI has a place in their current workflow are being pushed to evaluate and act. Fast.
That said, the needs driving language access haven’t gone away. More than 25 million people in the U.S. have limited English proficiency, and they still need information in their own languages to navigate services and make informed decisions that allow them to receive equal access to healthcare, financial services, education, and legal counsel.
Rethinking AI
Government entities and regulated industries alike have been more reserved in embracing AI for critical communications. Some organizations have concerns about the accuracy or security of the technology, especially when the risks of miscommunication or security breaches are so high. Others aren’t sure how or where to start deploying it. For many, it’s simply unclear how AI fits into their existing processes or how much human oversight is still needed.
This memo will encourage many organizations to re-evaluate that stance.
And AI does have some real advantages when implemented carefully:
- It helps teams handle high volumes without delays.
- It lowers costs by reducing manual effort.
- It can help provide more translated materials available for less budget.
- And it gives you the flexibility to add human review when it’s still essential.
Why Language Access Still Matters
As AI becomes central to federal language strategies, private sector organizations are facing similar budget pressures, but with unique challenges of their own, including:
- A continuing need to communicate clearly and avoid misunderstandings with customers, members, and patients from different linguistic backgrounds
- Flat or shrinking budgets, even as translation needs increase
- Pressure to streamline workflows and shorten turnaround times
- Compliance requirements that mandate accuracy and consistency
- Global operations that rely on aligned communications across regions, teams, and tools
- Costly and potentially dangerous consequences for miscommunication in fields like healthcare and legal.
These challenges all point to the same need: a smarter, more scalable approach to multilingual content.
The Business Case for Language Access
Helping people access information and services in their own languages is the right thing to do, but that’s far from the only reason to do it. Language access isn’t just good service. It’s also a smart strategy because it helps:
- Build loyalty and trust by making patients, members, and customers feel understood and supported
- Reduce risk and legal exposure in regulated environments
- Improve retention by making experiences more inclusive and accessible
- Support performance goals, from STAR ratings to health plans, to improved healthcare outcomes for providers, to satisfaction scores and customer experience metrics
- Fuel growth by opening your services to broader markets with less friction
Across sectors, organizations that prioritize clear and efficient communication are best positioned to adapt, compete, and lead.
LanguageExpress™: Purpose-Built for High-Stakes, High-Volume Content
BIG is ready to help healthcare, financial services, and other enterprise organizations deploy machine translation at scale. But when speed, accuracy, and scale all matter, generic translation tools just don’t cut it. That’s why BIG built LanguageExpress™, a custom translation solution designed specifically for high-volume translation, regulated industries, and complex multilingual workflows.
Unlike generic, one-size-fits-all engines, LanguageExpress™ is trained on domain-specific data, whether that’s medical, legal, financial, or manufacturing, and fine-tuned to match each client’s voice, formatting, and terminology.
We’ve also designed LanguageExpress™ to handle complexity, urgency, and high security requirements:
- Same-Day Translations Available 24x7x365. Translate customer letters, member notices, and other important communications in hours, not days, thanks to automated, integrated, always-on workflows.
- Expert Translation in 300+ Languages. Better support for multilingual communities with accurate, culturally appropriate translations.
- Alternate Formats for ADA and Section 508 Compliance. Reach your members no matter their individual communication needs with alternate formats, including large print, braille, and audio.
- Direct-to-Member Fulfillment. From translation to printing and delivery, we handle it all so you don’t have to.
- Secure, compliant processes, including HITRUST, ISO 27001, and SOC 2 Type II.
- Custom, integrated workflows designed to fit your systems, timelines, and goals.
And the quality we provide is exceptional, which translates into faster turnaround times, lower internal workload, and significant cost savings.
Whether you’re translating claims documents, explanations of benefits, form letters, or other high-volume communications, LanguageExpress™ helps you do more with less.
Efficiency Without Compromise
The DOJ memo highlights a growing reality: organizations everywhere are being asked to do more with fewer resources, but skimping on quality isn’t an option when someone’s well-being or legal standing is on the line.
That’s not just a government challenge. It’s a shared one across healthcare, legal, and enterprise sectors. And it’s exactly why BIG developed LanguageExpress™. To help you translate high volumes of content quickly, affordably, and with confidence.
If your team is rethinking how language services fit into your operations, now’s the time to explore what’s possible with the right tools in place.
If you’re ready to take advantage of AI for language access, contact us today to learn how BIG Language Solutions can help you deliver reliable communications at scale.
