President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” 

Washington, D.C. — On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness,” directing federal agencies to rename key geographic features to better reflect what the administration calls America’s patriotic legacy.

Key Changes Mandated

• The Gulf of Mexico is to be renamed the Gulf of America across federal maps, documents, and regulations.

• The order also reinstates Mount McKinley as the official name for North America’s highest peak, reversing the 2015 change to Denali.

• Within 7 days, agency heads with appointments to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names must review the status of their appointees and consider replacements to align with the order’s goals.

• Within 30 days, the Secretary of the Interior is instructed to carry out the renaming steps and update the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) accordingly.

Justification & Rationale

The order emphasizes that naming national landmarks should “honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans.” It frames both the Gulf and the mountain as symbols of economic, environmental, and historical significance.

For example, the renamed Gulf, the order notes, spans over 1,700 miles of U.S. coastline and plays a crucial role in energy, fisheries, tourism, and maritime commerce. Meanwhile, the restoration of “Mount McKinley” is portrayed as paying homage to a past president who the order credits with championing American industrial and economic power.

Implementation & Challenges Ahead

• The Board on Geographic Names will play a key role in approving the name changes and issuing guidance to federal agencies during the transition.

• Because the renaming involves federal property and jurisdictions, the order is designed to be consistent with existing law and contingent on appropriated funds.

• However, the order explicitly states it does not override statutory names in federal law. Changes to those would require action by Congress.

The Department of the Interior has already begun implementing the directives, coordinating with state and local entities, and updating federal geographic records.