Tougher civics test and moral checks introduced as Trump administration tightens naturalization process for millions of aspiring U.S. citizens.
Green card holders seeking U.S. citizenship now face a tougher road, as the government begins enforcing a new version of the Naturalization Civics Test designed to measure applicants’ understanding of American history, government, and values more rigorously.
The updated 2025 Civics Test, launched Monday October 20, 2025, is part of the Trump administration’s broader push to tighten immigration procedures and emphasize moral and civic integrity among new citizens. Applicants filing Form N-400 from October 20, 2025, onward must take the revised exam and undergo additional scrutiny, including community interviews and character assessments.
Under the new guidelines, the question pool has expanded from 100 to 128 questions. Applicants must now correctly answer 12 out of 20 randomly selected questions — a significant increase from the previous threshold of six out of ten. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), officers will stop the test once a candidate either passes with 12 correct answers or fails after nine incorrect responses.
Older applicants aged 65 and above who have been permanent residents for at least 20 years will continue taking a simplified version — 10 questions drawn from a smaller pool of 20.
Read Also: Trump: Warns Colombian President Petro After Hurting Remarks
A USCIS statement described the reform as a move to “ensure only those aliens who will fully embrace our values and principles” are granted citizenship. “American citizenship is the most sacred in the world,” said agency spokesperson Matthew Tragesser, adding that the new test reinforces the need for full assimilation and civic understanding.
However, immigration experts warn that the higher standards could discourage or disqualify many otherwise eligible residents. Julia Gelatt of the Migration Policy Institute said the changes arrive amid reduced federal funding for English and civics education, which could leave many applicants unprepared.
“This new test comes at a time when the administration is also reviving neighborhood checks and moral character reviews,” Gelatt noted. “Taken together, fewer people may succeed in naturalizing.”
The revision also revives elements from a civics test first introduced during President Donald Trump’s first term and later rolled back under former President Joe Biden.
Critics, including former U.S. Immigration Service director Doris Meissner, argue that the policy risks casting doubt on lawful immigrants’ eligibility and intent. “It suggests that applicants need to prove they’ll be ‘good Americans,’ which changes the spirit of naturalization,” she said.
Applicants who fail the test twice will have their citizenship petitions denied. USCIS says the goal is fairness and national integrity; advocates fear it will instead deter thousands from even trying.
