Did you know that the United States (US) government officially designates certain languages as “critical” to maintaining national security, diplomacy, and economic competitiveness? Languages with “critical” status receive government-provided incentives for boosting proficiency levels among Americans for reasons of strategic necessity. 

The designation was established in 1991 with the passage of the David L. Boren National Security Education Act. While there is no required number of critical languages, historically, there have been between 12 and 15 active critical languages at any given time. As of 2025, eight out of the 12 active critical languages rank within the top 14 most-spoken languages in the world by population.

On an ongoing basis, the government identifies languages that are perceived as essential to US interests. Factors in the selection process include geopolitical tensions, trade and economic influence, and limited US proficiency. Instead of integrating more comprehensive foreign language education into the American curriculum on a permanent basis, education in certain languages is bolstered when these global factors demand it.

The Department of State (DOS) and the Department of Defense (DOD) are the two main governing bodies that oversee the creation and implementation of the list. These agencies work together to ensure that language education within the US aligns with current needs that constantly shift based on global events.

More specifically, the Secretary of Defense is responsible for determining which languages are included in the list, primarily through its Defense Language, Regional Expertise, and Culture Program (LREC). In addition, the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense serves as the custodian for the list. The DOS, meanwhile, is responsible for implementing government programs such as the Critical Language Scholarship Program (CLS), which are used as incentives for American students to quickly learn these languages in exchange for college credit and federal-level jobs.

There are many ways in which the establishment of critical languages affects the country’s presence on the global stage. Critical language education has undeniably contributed to international intelligence, diplomacy, and trade competitiveness — and will continue to do so in the future as long as foreign policy deems it necessary.