MONTEREY >> A bipartisan bill, which aims to protect and strengthen language training at the Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center in Monterey in response to recent Defense Department budget changes, was authored and introduced by U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley.

The Fluent Forces Act would protect the future of military language education from those budget changes that threaten long-standing language programs. Co-leading this effort are Reps. Jen Kiggans, VA-02, and Tony Gonzales, TX-23.

“As the Department of Defense shifts funding away from language training, we risk losing our human edge in intelligence and diplomacy,” said Panetta in a press release. “The Fluent Forces Act would ensure we invest in training fluent military linguists and culturally competent officers by protecting (the Defense Language Institute) and strengthening recruitment. Preserving these skills is essential to safeguarding our national security in today’s increasingly complex global landscape.”

Since World War II, the United States has relied on language-proficient servicemembers to support intelligence, counterterrorism, diplomacy, and multinational military operations. The Defense Language Institute in Monterey was established to meet that need. However, recent funding cuts and resource reallocations now put the future of these programs, and the pipeline of trained linguists, at risk according to the release.

The Fluent Forces Act would reaffirm the value of language and cultural training, requiring annual reporting on student recruitment efforts, and promoting new, coordinated strategies across military branches to build a pipeline of skilled linguists. The legislation aims to ensure continued investment in language readiness as a national security priority.

The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center at the Presidio of Monterey evolved from a small World War II-era Japanese-language school into the largest military foreign-language institute.

“As a Navy veteran and member of the Armed Services Committee, I’ve seen the operational value of military linguists up close — from building trust with foreign partners to gathering critical intelligence in complex environments,” said Kiggans in the release. “The Fluent Forces Act is about restoring that edge. By strengthening language training, recruiting future linguists, and promoting cross-branch collaboration, we’re ensuring our servicemembers are better prepared for today’s missions and tomorrow’s threats. This is a smart, bipartisan investment in readiness, deterrence, and our national defense.”

In its history in Monterey, the Defense Language Institute has been threatened with closure twice. In 1993, during the Base Realignment and Closure Process, the Pentagon recommended relocating DLI to Fort Huachuca in Arizona, and outsourcing language instruction to the University of Arizona. In 2005, another BRAC round once again identified the Language Center on the Pentagon’s closure and realignment list with the proposal to move it and the Naval Postgraduate School to another location. In both BRAC rounds, the Defense Language Institute was retained through a combination of strong national security arguments, local advocacy and unique institutional strengths that could not be easily replicated elsewhere.

“As a retired Naval cryptologist I served with brave men and women who helped us win wars through their ability to translate the most complex languages,” said Gonzales in the release.

“Building up our defense priorities means being prepared on all fronts. By strengthening language training and recruiting linguists across our military branches, our troops will be more prepared for winning the next war.

“In my district, Lackland Air Force Base has been providing language services to support our national security missions since 1964. The Fluent Forces Act will expand services like this across the nation. I’m looking forward to joining forces with Congressman Jimmy Panetta and Congresswoman Jen Kiggans to get this legislation across the finish line in the U.S. House of Representatives.”