The Trump administration is seeking to change how the U.S. citizenship test is run, with a plan to have the exam administered by an outside third party instead of directly by the federal immigration agency. The proposal is outlined in a Department of Homeland Security document filed with the White House budget office’s Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs.
DHS also said it would more clearly define the education requirements and English-language standards needed to become a U.S. citizen. Officials said the changes are intended to improve the test’s reliability and give the government more flexibility in how it is administered.
The citizenship test is a required step for lawful permanent residents, or green card holders, who apply for naturalization. It measures knowledge of American history and the structure of the U.S. government, and immigration lawyers are closely watching the proposal because outsourcing could change the content or difficulty of the exam.
The plan is not final and cannot take effect until it goes through the formal rulemaking process. It comes as the Trump administration has expanded efforts to strip citizenship in some cases and tighten immigration rules more broadly.
