Trump’s Renaming Push: The Cost of Changing Lake Ontario to Lake America

Donald Trump is advancing plans to change the name of Lake Ontario to “Lake America.” This decision follows a breakdown in trade talks between the U.S. and Canada in August. Trump stated that the U.S. would consider the change due to diminished business expectations with Ontario. An executive order formalizing this was issued on August 27, instructing Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to update all federal references to the lake.

Burgum responded positively to the order, emphasizing that America’s borders and waters should reflect national greatness. The Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) has made the initial update to “Lake America,” and other companies like Google and Apple have started their updates, though full compliance hasn’t been reached.

Financial Concerns

Experts emphasize the high cost of this name change. Federal and local agencies need to update maps, documents, and signage, which could burden taxpayers. Linda Bilmes, a public policy lecturer, explained that name changes aren’t straightforward, citing prior experiences with high administrative costs.

Robert Corradino, Oswego’s mayor, forecasted significant financial strain for his small city. Expenses include thousands of dollars for updating public references like maps and signage. Corradino’s statement opposed the executive order, citing it as an unnecessary financial burden.

Philip G. Joyce, a public policy professor, stated that estimating the total cost is challenging, yet changes will impact many organizations. A comparison is drawn to a previous name change of the Gulf of Mexico, “Gulf of America,” which was estimated to cost up to $500,000 for federal updates alone. Additional state-level costs could arise, including potential coordination and public alerts, as highlighted by Michael C. Dorf, a Cornell law professor.

Environmental implications are notable. Mike Shriberg from the University of Michigan estimated disruptions to environmental data and collaborations, with significant financial implications for agencies and researchers. Joyce questioned the value of name changes and argued that these efforts should offer tangible benefits to avoid being wasteful.

Trump’s Broader Renaming Initiatives

Since Trump’s inauguration, renaming efforts have aimed to honor American greatness. Changes include renaming the Gulf of Mexico and the Department of Defense with varying implementation costs. However, public support is lacking. A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 14 percent of Americans support changing Lake Ontario’s name, with 63 percent opposing the move.

Despite opposition, Trump continues to propose similar changes, including renaming the Strait of Hormuz and even suggesting “NEW AMERICA” for New Mexico. The fiscal and administrative costs of these initiatives continue to be a point of debate.

This analysis appeared in Newsweek’s Accountable Newsletter, detailing the economic debates in Washington and their real-world impacts. For further details, contact Newsweek editors Daniel Orton and James Debens.