Additional Coverage:
Former President Trump’s executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America is causing a stir. Federal agencies and the military have begun implementing the change, and even Google Maps has indicated it will update its maps once official sources reflect the change.
However, renaming a geographic feature is a complex process. Updating official documents, communications, maps, and charts across the entire bureaucracy takes time and a coordinated effort.
Trump’s order, issued on his first day back in office, aims to “restore names that honor American greatness.” It also reverses former President Obama’s decision to rename Mount McKinley back to Denali.
While some Republicans have praised the move, there’s been international pushback. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum stated that the world still recognizes it as the Gulf of Mexico.
The name change has been swiftly adopted internally within the government and military. Public-facing communications are also being updated.
The Board on Geographic Names within the Department of the Interior oversees these changes for federal use. While their decisions are binding for federal agencies, other organizations and international bodies are not obligated to follow suit.
The NOAA is working with the Board on Geographic Names to determine the best way to implement the change for their maps and charts. Updating every instance of the name will be a lengthy process.
The US Coast Guard is already using the new name. However, Apple Maps has not yet made the change, and the Associated Press will continue to use Gulf of Mexico as its primary name.
International usage is also expected to vary. For example, some Arab nations refer to the Persian Gulf as the Arabian Gulf.