Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) announced on Thursday that she will introduce the “Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act” in the House of Representatives. The bill is designed to overturn President Trump’s recent executive order that seeks to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America” and to remove the historic name from all federal references.
Congressional response to a controversial renaming
In a post on X, Dingell called the order “idiotic” and emphasized that the Great Lakes are a shared treasure between the United States and Canada. “The Great Lakes are a shared treasure that generations of Americans and Canadians have worked together to protect. That’s why I’m introducing legislation to keep Lake Ontario as Lake Ontario and block President Trump’s idiotic order,” she wrote.
The executive order, issued on August 27, directs the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) to replace every federal mention of Lake Ontario with the new name. It also instructs the Board on Geographic Names to ensure all federal maps, contracts, and communications reflect the change.
Trump’s justification and the U.S. Geological Survey’s role
President Trump shared a message on Truth Social that appeared to be from U.S. Geological Survey Director Dr. Ned Mamula, confirming the agency’s implementation of the renaming. “As of 4:30 pm today the U.S. Geological Survey has officially designated the former Lake Ontario to be renamed as Lake America in all official USGS electronic documents,” the statement read. “The change will begin occurring in printed documents over the next several days. This change has also been made official in the Geographic Names Information System.”
Dingell’s office said the proposed legislation will declare the August 27 order to have “no force or effect,” effectively preserving the historic name and preventing any federal agency from adopting the new designation.
Cross‑border reactions
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded on X, reminding followers that the name “Ontario” derives from the Wendat word meaning “the lake is beautiful, the lake is big.” He noted that the name predates both Canadian Confederation and the United States Declaration of Independence, underscoring the deep cultural and historical roots of the original name.
Carney’s comment highlighted the broader diplomatic context, as the renaming comes amid an intensifying U.S.–Canada trade dispute. While the administration frames the change as a sovereign act, many Canadian officials and citizens view it as an unnecessary alteration of a shared natural landmark.
What the legislation could mean
If passed, the Hands Off Our Great Lakes Act would reaffirm the longstanding practice of maintaining historic geographic names, reinforcing cooperation between the United States and Canada on environmental stewardship and tourism. It would also signal congressional resistance to unilateral executive actions that affect international relationships.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and Dingell’s office for comment. Both requests remain unanswered at the time of publication.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
