Fewer U.S. college students are studying a foreign language − and that spells trouble for national security

Between 2009 and 2021, nearly 30% fewer college students enrolled in a foreign language course. FatCamera/E+ Collection/Getty Images

When the Soviet Union launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial Earth satellite, on Oct. 4, 1957, it did more than spark fears about America’s ability to compete technologically. It also raised concerns that the U.S. had a shortage of Russian speakers capable of monitoring Soviet scientific and military activities.

In 1958, the National Defense Education Act authorized funding to strengthen U.S. education in language instruction, in addition to math and science.