Trump signs order directing Interior Department to update maps and databases renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America

President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the Department of the Interior to update federal maps and databases to use the name “Lake America” for Lake Ontario, according to a report Thursday.

The order follows through on a threat Trump made during a trade dispute with Canada, the report said, in which he publicly linked naming changes to the broader economic confrontation.

Under the directive as described by the report, the Interior Department would implement the renaming across federal mapping and data systems, affecting how the lake is presented in federal datasets and official geospatial references.

The action underscores how the administration is using executive authority to change a long-established geographic label within federal systems, rather than seeking legislative approval or treaty-level renegotiation.

The practical effect, according to the report’s account, would be that U.S. federal agencies updating their official maps and databases would begin using “Lake America” in place of “Lake Ontario,” potentially creating inconsistencies with state, academic, and private-sector references that rely on older naming conventions.

The report did not describe specific timelines, the scope of systems covered beyond maps and databases, or whether the Interior Department’s update process would include notice-and-comment rulemaking or interagency review before implementation.

The administration’s move also raises questions about coordination with partners, including Canada, given that Lake Ontario is a shared geographic feature used in cross-border navigation, commerce, and scientific reporting, though the report did not provide details on any consultation.