The Trump administration is tightening the naturalization process for green card holders aspiring to become US citizens. Starting October 20, 2025, all applicants filing Form N-400 will face a new 2025 Civics Test, doubling the number of questions they must answer correctly to qualify for citizenship.
This updated test, administered by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), aims to ensure immigrants have a deeper understanding of American history, politics, and government before being granted citizenship.
What’s Changing in the Civics Test
The 2025 Naturalization Civics Test consists of 20 oral questions chosen from a pool of 128 possible questions. Applicants must correctly answer 12 to pass; failure to answer 9 correctly results in an automatic fail.
Those aged 65 or older and with over 20 years of residency can still take a simplified 10-question test, with an option to do it in their native language.
Citizenship at Risk for Existing Immigrants
It’s not just new applicants under scrutiny. The Department of Justice has empowered civil division employees to revoke citizenship of individuals found to have obtained it through false information or misrepresentation. Even underreporting income on tax returns could lead to losing US citizenship, reflecting the government’s tougher stance on immigration compliance.
Moral Character and Neighborhood Checks
In addition to the new test, USCIS is emphasizing an applicant’s moral character and community integration. Officers will now assess positive social contributions and may conduct neighborhood investigations requiring testimonial letters from employers, co-workers, or neighbors to verify conduct and values.
Ensuring Alignment with American Values
The 2025 changes underscore the administration’s goal of ensuring that only individuals who fully align with American values and responsibilities become citizens. As immigration policies tighten, aspiring Americans must prepare for a more demanding process—both in knowledge and integrity—to earn the privilege of U.S. citizenship.
