Which U.S. federal agencies use 'Gulf of Mexico' on official maps and publications?
Executive summary
U.S. federal agencies began using the name “Gulf of America” after a January 20, 2025 executive order and a U.S. Board on Geographic Names action directing federal usage; several agencies including the U.S. Interior Department, U.S. Geological Survey and others publicly moved to the new label and Google and other map platforms adjusted U.S. views to match [1] [2] [3]. Reporting shows the change applies to the U.S. executive branch and federal publications, while foreign governments and many international sources continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” creating parallel naming systems and political controversy [1] [4] [3].
1. The trigger: an executive order and the Board on Geographic Names
President Trump signed an executive order on January 20, 2025 directing the Interior Secretary and the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to adopt “Gulf of America” for waters bounded by the United States; the Interior Department told agencies to use that name beginning January 24, 2025 [1]. Encyclopaedia Britannica likewise reports the BGN adopted “Gulf of America” for use by U.S. federal agencies in 2025 [5]. The order is an administrative instruction that governs only federal executive-branch usage, not private companies or other countries [1].
2. Which federal agencies publicly changed labels
Multiple U.S. agencies either announced or were reported as switching their maps and publications to “Gulf of America.” The U.S. Geological Survey created a “Gulf of America” page and used that label in its special-topics materials [6]. Reporting and leaked internal email reporting indicate agencies including USGS, the U.S. Forest Service and the Census Bureau were told or confirmed they would update maps and products — the Census Bureau said maps published after Feb. 7 would feature “Gulf of America,” and USFS staff expected topographical and ranger maps to be updated by a stated deadline [2]. The State Department was reported “aware of the need” to reflect names in databases maintained by the Board on Geographic Names [2]. The Interior Department publicly confirmed federal agencies would use the new name [1].
3. Private and non‑U.S. map platforms followed — but only in U.S. views
Major mapping companies changed what U.S. users see: Google announced it would display “Gulf of America” in the U.S., while showing local official names to users in other countries and dual labels elsewhere; The Guardian and other outlets reported Google Maps’ shift to match the executive order [3]. Houston Chronicle and Clarion-Ledger reporting likewise note Google, Apple and Bing altered U.S. displays to “Gulf of America” [7] [4]. Rest of World explained mapping firms generally display the official local name for users in that country, which explains the U.S.-only view [8].
4. The scope and legal limits: federal-only and international pushback
As an executive order, the renaming legally compels only U.S. federal agencies and does not bind private companies, states, foreign governments or international bodies. Wikipedia and other coverage emphasize that the order applies to the executive branch and that non‑federal actors can ignore it [1] [9]. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Mexican officials publicly rejected the change and said Mexico would continue to use “Gulf of Mexico,” arguing a coastal state cannot unilaterally rename an international sea beyond its territorial waters [4] [3].
5. Why agencies complied and how fast the switch happened
Reporting portrays a rapid, sometimes chaotic, implementation: emails and agency memos show USGS leadership coordinating updates and pressing other agencies to change labels quickly, with deadlines in February 2025 for many map products [2]. The Interior Department’s confirmation and the Board on Geographic Names’ database change created a chain: federal agencies that rely on BGN-maintained names or Interior guidance proceeded to update maps and publications [1] [5].
6. Conflicting signals and continuing use of “Gulf of Mexico”
Not all U.S.-based media or institutions accepted the change; the Associated Press and other editorial bodies protested mandates that would restrict their own style choices, and polls showed majority public opposition to the rename [4] [1]. NOAA’s Gulf of Mexico Data Atlas and longstanding scientific materials historically use the “Gulf of Mexico” terminology; available sources do not mention whether every scientific product was rebranded after the order, and many legacy resources and international scientific pages continued to use the traditional name [10]. Where sources do explicitly document agency renaming, they are cited above [6] [2] [1].
Limitations: This account uses only the supplied reporting and agency pages. Some federal agencies not cited here may also have adjusted maps or retained legacy labels; available sources do not mention a complete, agency-by-agency roll call.