USGS Workers Frustrated by President Donald Trump's Proposed Landmark Renaming Plans

President Donald Trump 's suggestion that he might rename the Strait of Hormuz as the Trump Strait has frustrated employees at the US Geological Survey, the agency responsible for overseeing federal map names. Staff members reported a gloomy atmosphere within the organization following an executive order from Mr Trump requiring the federal government to refer to Lake Ontario as Lake America amid an ongoing trade dispute with Canada.

“I'm not happy,” shared one USGS staffer, speaking on condition of anonymity out of fear of retribution. “We've had other controversies about names before, but never something like this.” Typically, name changes require a vote by the US Board on Geographic Names rather than an executive order. The employee noted that while some precedent exists for such orders, the timing coincides with a period where Mr Trump's popularity is near all-time lows.

“This is all so annoying because we have a lot of work to do and we're dealing with this,” the employee stated, explaining that the agency must now update signs, maps, and other references. “It's costing taxpayer dollars and human time to do this work. It is all so unnecessary.”

An additional complication arose when Apple and Google updated their map software for US users to reflect Lake America using USGS data, drawing public frustration toward the two US technology giants. The name change was officially confirmed when Mr Trump shared an email from USGS director Ned Mamula stating that the alteration had been implemented in USGS electronic systems and would roll out in printed documents over subsequent days.

Mr Mamula, a Trump appointee confirmed by the US Senate in 2025, faced opposition during his confirmation. Senator Martin Heinrich voted against him, citing concerns over a track record of spreading disinformation and conspiracy theories, and questioned his suitability to lead an agency known for impartial scientific information. Mr Mamula did not respond to requests for comment, and a USGS public affairs official declined to comment, instead pointing to a social media statement by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Another USGS employee contrasted the current situation with former president Barack Obama's 2015 executive order renaming Mount McKinley to Mount Denali, noting that the political environment was less polarized at the time, though the Trump administration ultimately reversed that change last year. Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, staff noted that any designation would only apply domestically, as international map standards are handled by the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, and other countries would likely continue using traditional names just as Canada continues to use Lake Ontario.