About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline
LOG IN
LOG IN

1 1 (January 24, 2025)

handle is hein.crs/govesfq0001 and id is 1 raw text is: Congressional Research Service Informing the IegisI9tive debate since 1914 January 24, 2025 Trump Administration Actions: Geographical Naming In President Trump's second inaugural speech, he stated that his Administration would change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and return the name of Denali in Alaska to Mount McKinley. On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order (E.O.), Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness to rename those bodies and to guide future policy regarding the federal process for establishing geographic names. Generally, the process for federal renaming of geographical features involves public petition to the U.S. Board on Geographical Names (BGN) for consideration on an individual basis. However, under previous Administrations, the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) has issued secretarial orders (S.O.s) to change the name of geographic features for federal use, including for Denali in 2017 (S.O. 3337). Congress also has enacted legislation establishing or changing geographical names. This In Focus describes the BGN and its role in renaming federal geographic features, the E.O. and its potential implications, and potential issues for Congress. An issue for Congress is whether to adjust current authorities related to federal geographic names and, if so, what type of changes to pursue. U.S. Board on Geograph cal Names In 1947, P.L. 80-242 (43 U.S.C. §§364-364f) formally authorized the BGN. The BGN is composed of representatives of various federal agencies to establish and maintain uniform geographic name usage throughout the federal government. The Secretary, jointly with the BGN, is to provide for uniformity in geographic nomenclature throughout the federal government. The BGN is tasked with solving name discrepancies; approving new names; validating and recording existing names; and promulgating all official names. The BGN performs these duties through its committees, such as the Domestic Names Committee (DNC) and the Foreign Names Committee (FNC). Table 1 describes these committee structures and duties. The committees meet to decide on geographic name issues, pursuant to their principles, policies, and procedures. Any individual or agency may submit a proposal to the BGN to change an existing name; the proposal must include reasons why and a proposed replacement name. Under its current policy for domestic names, the DNC recognizes two classes of name changes: (1) those made to bring official federal usage into agreement with established local usage and (2) those made to eliminate potential name issues (e.g., names asserted to be offensive). DNC policies state that no decision will be made on any proposal that is also being considered by Congress. In its current policy, the FNC states that it does not encourage, but occasionally receives, geographic names proposals, which it addresses, as appropriate. With some exceptions, the BGN considers name changes on a case-by-case basis. Table I. Information for Selected Board on Geographic Names Committees Feature DNC FNC Geographic Geographic names in Foreign geographic Domain the 50 states and in names, including other areas under oceans and seas but U.S. sovereignty, excluding Antarctica including U.S. territorial waters Members Departments of the Departments of Interior, Commerce, Commerce, Agriculture, Defense, Defense, Homeland and Homeland Security, and State; Security; U.S. Postal Central Intelligence Service; Government Agency; Library of Publishing Office; and Congress Library of Congress Official Geographic Names Geographic Names Database Information System Server Agency for U.S. Geological National Geospatial- Staff Support Survey Intelligence Agency Sources: DNC, Principles, Policies, and Procedures, December 2016; and FNC, Principles, Policies, and Procedures, September 2024. Notes: DNC = Domestic Names Committee. FNC = Foreign Names Committee. Does not include BGN committees on Antarctic Names and Undersea Features. The BGN is not responsible for names applying to offices or establishments of federal agencies. xecut ve Order mp ementat on Gulf of America and Mount McKinley. Citing 43 U.S. Code §§364-364f, President Trump's E.O. directs the Secretary to take all appropriate actions within 30 days to rename the respective features described in the E.O. as the Gulf of America and Mount McKinley. The E.O. directs the Secretary to then update the official geographic names databases (see Table 1) to reflect these renamings and remove all references to the previous names from the databases, consistent with applicable law. The E.O. directs the BGN to provide guidance to ensure all federal references, including on agency maps, contracts, and other documents and communications, reflect these renamings. Geographic place names set forth by the BGN apply only to the standardization of federal publications. Administrative decisions by the BGN and other executive actions pertaining to geographic name changes do not apply in an international context. For example, the BGN has previously determined that the Sea of Japan is the appropriate standard

What Is HeinOnline?

HeinOnline is a subscription-based resource containing thousands of academic and legal journals from inception; complete coverage of government documents such as U.S. Statutes at Large, U.S. Code, Federal Register, Code of Federal Regulations, U.S. Reports, and much more. Documents are image-based, fully searchable PDFs with the authority of print combined with the accessibility of a user-friendly and powerful database. For more information, request a quote or trial for your organization below.



Short-term subscription options include 24 hours, 48 hours, or 1 week to HeinOnline.

Purchase Access

Already a HeinOnline Subscriber?

Log In

profiles profiles most