President Donald Trump’s administration has announced that it is restoring stricter requirements for the U.S. naturalization test.
The Trump admin is reimplementing changes first made during the president’s first term but later scrapped by the Biden administration.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) confirmed Wednesday that the 2025 version of the civics exam will return to the 2020 Trump-era standard.
The change replaces the softer 2008 version brought back under Biden.
“American citizenship is the most sacred citizenship in the world and should only be reserved for aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles as a nation,” USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said in a statement.
What’s Changing
The revised test includes 128 possible civics questions, compared to just 100 under the 2008 format.
Applicants will be required to answer 12 out of 20 correctly to pass.
While the passing threshold remains unchanged, test administrators may now conclude the exam once an applicant answers 12 correctly or nine incorrectly, tightening the process and preventing drawn-out questioning.
Sample questions include:
• “Name one thing the U.S. Constitution does.”
• “Why did the United States enter World War I?”
• “Thomas Jefferson is famous for many things. Name one.”
• “Name one example of an American innovation.”
The test, administered orally, is required for all lawful permanent residents applying for naturalization.
Applicants have two chances to pass.
Failure on both attempts results in denial of citizenship.
Stronger Vetting Under Trump
The Trump administration has already begun implementing broader reforms to the naturalization process.
These include:
• More thorough vetting of applicants’ backgrounds.
• Stricter reviews of disability exceptions for English and civics requirements.
• New guidance instructing officers to assess moral character and contributions to society, not just the absence of criminal behavior.
• Neighborhood investigations to confirm applicants meet statutory requirements.
• Disqualification for applicants who have illegally voted, registered unlawfully to vote, or falsely claimed U.S. citizenship.
“By ensuring only those aliens who meet all eligibility requirements, including the ability to read, write, and speak English and understand U.S. government and civics, the American people can be assured that those joining us as fellow citizens are fully assimilated and will contribute to America’s greatness,” Tragesser said.
He added that these measures represent “the first of many” reforms to strengthen the naturalization process.
The Bigger Picture
In fiscal year 2024, more than 94% of applicants passed the citizenship test under the older rules.
By restoring tougher standards, the Trump administration signals its commitment to ensuring that citizenship is earned, not handed out, and that new Americans share a clear understanding of U.S. history, government, and values.
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