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The 1-Minute Brief

What: Executive Order 14172, issued on January 20, 2025, directs federal agencies to change the names of two major geographic features. It mandates renaming North America's tallest peak from "Denali" back to "Mount McKinley" and renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" to the "Gulf of America" in all official federal documents.

Money: The executive order does not appropriate specific funds for these changes. Costs would be absorbed by affected federal agencies for updating maps, documents, and information systems. No official cost estimate has been released.

Your Impact: For most Americans, the direct impact is minimal, primarily affecting how these geographic locations are referenced on federal maps, websites, and documents. The changes may have a more significant cultural and symbolic impact on specific communities, particularly Alaska Natives and those of Mexican heritage.

Status: This Executive Order was signed by the President on January 20, 2025, and published in the Federal Register on January 31, 2025. Federal agencies were directed to implement the changes within 30 days.

What's Actually in the Bill

Executive Order 14172 directs the Secretary of the Interior to officially rename two significant geographic locations to "honor the contributions of visionary and patriotic Americans."

Core Provisions:

Mount McKinley Renaming: Within 30 days of the order, the name of the highest peak in North America is to be reinstated to "Mount McKinley" in all federal records, including the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS). This reverses a 2015 decision that named the mountain Denali. The surrounding national park will remain "Denali National Park and Preserve."
Gulf of America Renaming: Within 30 days of the order, the body of water known as the "Gulf of Mexico" is to be officially renamed the "Gulf of America" for the U.S. Continental Shelf area. The order instructs the Secretary of the Interior to update the GNIS and remove all federal references to the "Gulf of Mexico."
Geographic Names Board: The order instructs agency heads to review their appointees to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and consider replacements. It also directs the newly constituted board to update its policies to align with the order's stated purpose of honoring patriotic Americans.

Stated Purpose (from the Sponsors):

To promote the Nation's heritage and ensure future generations celebrate the legacy of American heroes.
To honor President William McKinley for his leadership during the Spanish-American War, his economic policies, and his "steadfast commitment to American greatness."
To recognize the "Gulf of Mexico" as a critical economic and natural resource for the United States, pivotal to the nation's future.

Key Facts:

Affected Sectors: Government & Public Administration, Maritime Industry, Oil & Gas, Fisheries, Tourism.
Timeline: The name changes were directed to be implemented by federal agencies within 30 days of January 20, 2025.
Scope: The order applies to all federal departments and agencies, affecting official maps, documents, and communications. The name change for the Gulf of America is specific to the U.S. Continental Shelf area.

The Backstory: How We Got Here

Timeline of Events:

The Long-Disputed Peak (1896-2015):

The debate over the name of North America's tallest mountain is over a century old. For centuries, the Koyukon people, Indigenous to the region, have called the mountain "Denali," meaning "The Great One" or "The High One". In 1896, a gold prospector named it Mount McKinley as a show of support for then-presidential candidate William McKinley. This name was formally recognized by the federal government in 1917.

In 1975, the Alaska Board of Geographic Names officially changed the mountain's name to Denali for state purposes and requested the federal government do the same. However, this effort was consistently blocked for decades by Ohio's congressional delegation, as McKinley was from Ohio. In a compromise in 1980, the surrounding park was named Denali National Park and Preserve, but the mountain itself remained Mount McKinley on federal maps. The issue was resolved in 2015 when the Obama administration, through an order by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, officially restored the name to Denali, citing the federal government's authority to act when the Board on Geographic Names has not done so in a "reasonable" time frame of 40 years.

A New Name for a Historic Gulf (1500s-Present):

The "Gulf of Mexico" has been recognized by that name since the 1500s, named by Spanish explorers after the Mexica (Aztec) civilization. The name became internationally established on maps and in legal use over centuries. Prior to this executive order, there has not been a significant political or social movement to change its name. A proposal to rename it the "Gulf of America" was unanimously rejected by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names in 2006.

Why Now? The Political Calculus:

The executive order aligns with a political theme of "Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness," framing the changes as a correction of past actions perceived as politically motivated.
The renaming of Mount McKinley reverses a decision made by the previous administration, making it a symbolic act of political counter-messaging.
The order cites President McKinley's support for protective tariffs, connecting his legacy to the administration's economic policies.
Renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America is presented as a move to assert American identity and control over a vital economic resource.

Your Real-World Impact

The Direct Answer: This directly affects specific groups culturally, while for most Americans, the change is primarily symbolic, altering names on federal maps and websites.

What Could Change for You:

Potential Benefits:

For those who see President William McKinley as a significant historical figure, the renaming of the mountain restores a perceived honor.
Supporters of the order may feel a stronger sense of national identity from the name "Gulf of America."

Possible Disruptions or Costs:

Short-term (First 1-2 Years):

Potential for confusion as federal maps, websites, and documents are updated, while state, local, and private maps and materials may retain the old names.
Industries like tourism, shipping, and fishing that operate in the Gulf may face minor administrative burdens in updating their own materials to reflect the official federal name.

Long-term:

The changes could create a permanent divergence between federal nomenclature and local or international usage, particularly for the Gulf of Mexico, a body of water shared with Mexico and Cuba.
The renaming of Denali may remain a point of contention, especially within Alaska, where the name holds deep cultural significance.

Who's Most Affected:

Primary Groups:

Alaska Natives: The reversal from Denali to Mount McKinley directly impacts the Koyukon Athabascan people and other Indigenous groups for whom the name Denali is sacred and culturally significant.
Residents of Gulf Coast States: People living in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida will see the federal name for their coastal waters changed.
Mexican Government and Citizens: The renaming of a shared body of water away from a name that reflects their country's history could be seen as a diplomatic affront.

Secondary Groups:

Historians, Geographers, and Educators: Will need to teach and reference the new official names and the history of the changes.
Maritime and Energy Industries: Companies operating in the Gulf will have to adapt to the new federal terminology in official correspondence and documentation.

Regional Impact:

The impact is most concentrated in Alaska and the U.S. Gulf Coast states.

Bottom Line: For the average American, this executive order changes words on a map; for specific cultural and regional groups, it alters the identity of geographic landmarks central to their history and way of life.

Where the Parties Stand

Republican Position: "Honoring American Greatness"

Core Stance: The party is generally split, with the executive branch championing the changes while some prominent members, particularly from Alaska, are in opposition.

Their Arguments:

✓ Supporters argue the order rightfully honors an American president and asserts the nation's claim to a vital economic region.
✓ The order is framed as a correction of the "politically correct" decisions of a previous administration.
⚠️ Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin supported keeping the name McKinley.
✗ Alaska's U.S. Senators, Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, have publicly opposed the renaming of Denali, citing the mountain's Indigenous name as the most appropriate. Governor Mike Dunleavy also expressed a desire to discuss the importance of the name Denali with the President.

Legislative Strategy: The executive order was a direct action. However, Senator Murkowski introduced a bill in February 2025 to legislatively change the name back to Denali, creating a direct conflict with the executive action.

Democratic Position: "Respect for Culture and History"

Core Stance: The party generally opposes the executive order, viewing it as an unnecessary and divisive action that disrespects Indigenous and international heritage.

Their Arguments:

✓ They support retaining the name Denali, which was restored in 2015 to honor the traditions of Alaska Natives.
✗ They view the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico as an affront to a neighboring country and a rejection of centuries of history.
✗ Critics describe the move as a political stunt designed to erase the actions of the previous administration.

Legislative Strategy: Democrats are likely to support legislative efforts, like the bill from Alaska's senators, to reverse the name changes and may use appropriations processes to challenge funding for the implementation of the order.

Constitutional Check

The Verdict: ✓ Constitutional

Basis of Authority:

The President is acting through the Secretary of the Interior, whose authority to regulate geographic names is established by federal law. The relevant statute is 43 U.S.C. § 364 et seq., which creates the U.S. Board on Geographic Names and empowers the Secretary of the Interior to provide for uniformity in geographic nomenclature.

43 U.S.C. § 364: "[The Secretary of the Interior], conjointly with the Board on Geographic Names, as hereinafter provided, shall provide for uniformity in geographic nomenclature and orthography throughout the Federal Government."

Constitutional Implications:

[Executive Authority]: The executive branch has broad authority to manage the operations of the federal government, including standardizing names used in its official business. This falls within the President's duty to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed."
[Precedent]: The 2015 change to Denali was also done via Secretarial Order, citing the authority under the same statute. At the time, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell argued that the law allows the department to act when the official board fails to do so within a "reasonable" period. This established a recent precedent for executive action on geographic names.
[Federalism]: The order only affects the names used by the federal government. It does not and cannot compel states, local governments, or private citizens to change their usage. The Alaska state government, for example, has officially recognized the name Denali since 1975.

Potential Legal Challenges:

Legal challenges are unlikely to succeed. The Secretary of the Interior has clear statutory authority to make decisions on geographic names for federal use. A lawsuit would have to prove that the Secretary abused their discretion or that the action was "arbitrary and capricious," a high legal standard to meet. The most likely challenges will be political and legislative rather than judicial.

Your Action Options

TO SUPPORT THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER

5-Minute Actions:

Contact the White House: Use the White House comment line or website to express your support for Executive Order 14172.
Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I support Executive Order 14172. I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to oppose any legislative action to overturn it."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

Write a Detailed Email: Contact members of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to explain your support for honoring President McKinley and recognizing the "Gulf of America."
Join an Organization: Look for conservative or historical societies that support the recognition of figures like President McKinley.

TO OPPOSE THIS EXECUTIVE ORDER

5-Minute Actions:

Call Your Rep/Senators: Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121. "I'm a constituent from [Your City/Town] and I urge [Rep./Sen. Name] to support legislation, like the bill from Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, to restore the name Denali and oppose the renaming of the Gulf of Mexico."

30-Minute Deep Dive:

Write a Letter to the Editor: Submit a letter to your local newspaper explaining the cultural significance of the name Denali and the historical basis for the name Gulf of Mexico.
Join an Organization: Support groups that advocate for Indigenous rights and conservation. Organizations that have supported the Denali name include the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Tanana Chiefs Conference, National Parks Conservation Association, and the Denali Citizens Council.