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The Trump administration is preparing to toughen the U.S. citizenship test, arguing that the current system is too easy and leaves gaps in immigration security.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Joseph Edlow said the agency wants to create a more rigorous process in line with President Donald Trump’s pledge for “extreme vetting.”
“Ultimately, what I’d like to see is moving to a standardized test where an applicant goes beforehand to a testing center, answers the questions, we’ll get a sense of whether they understand what’s going on,” Edlow told Axios.
The civics portion of the naturalization test currently asks applicants 10 questions, of which six must be answered correctly to pass. Edlow said that the threshold is insufficient.
“We’re looking for actual understanding and ability to read and speak and write the English language; and, frankly, this test is just too easy: Six out of 10 questions right now is what people have to get right,” he said. “The bottom line is we need a naturalization test that ensures immigrants truly understand and embrace the responsibilities of American citizenship.”
Speaking at a Center for Immigration Studies event in Washington, Edlow also said he was “declaring war on fraud” in the naturalization process. The agency has issued updated guidance on evaluating English proficiency and “good moral character,” giving adjudicators broader discretion.
The citizenship test has been modified multiple times in recent years, RSBN previously reported. The 2008 redesign under President George W. Bush created a standardized version still in use today. In 2020, the Trump administration expanded the test, but the Biden administration later reversed those changes in 2021.
Trump has regularly highlighted the value of American citizenship, once calling it “one of the most priceless gifts ever granted by human hands.”
In 2024, nearly 820,000 immigrants were naturalized, according to USCIS. Since 2022, more than 1 million have become U.S. citizens.
Regarding the H-1B visa program, which has faced criticism for allowing companies to hire lower-paid foreign workers instead of American citizens, Edlow said in a Newsweek report that the program still has a role but should prioritize employers that offer higher wages.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees USCIS, is reportedly considering changes to the current lottery-based selection system. One proposed change would introduce a weighted selection process that aligns with Edlow’s emphasis on rewarding employers with higher pay.
