by In a move that’s stirring national debate, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voted on Thursday to officially rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.”
The bill, introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), passed with a narrow 211-206 vote. Only one Republican, Rep. Don Bacon of Nebraska, opposed the measure.
The legislation seeks to codify former President Donald Trump’s executive order issued at the beginning of his second term, which first called for renaming the iconic body of water. If fully enacted, all federal references to the Gulf of Mexico—including maps, laws, and agency documents—will be updated to read “Gulf of America.” Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum is tasked with overseeing the change.
“Codifying the rightful renaming of the Gulf of America isn’t just a priority for me and President Trump—it’s a priority for the American people,” Greene stated on X. “American taxpayers fund its protection, our military defends its waters, and American businesses fuel its economy.”
Despite support from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, the bill faces an uphill battle in the Senate, where bipartisan cooperation is needed to surpass a likely filibuster. Senate Republican Leader John Thune has not confirmed whether the bill will be brought to a vote.
During floor debate, Greene was the only Republican besides committee chairs to speak in favor. She stood alongside a large map rebranded with the new name.
On the other side of the aisle, Democrats voiced strong opposition. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries called the bill “small-minded, silly, and sycophantic,” criticizing Republicans for focusing on symbolic gestures instead of substantive policy.
“Republicans have decided to spend this entire legislative day debating a bill to rename the Gulf of Mexico. In some ways, the American people can be thankful—that’s the worst of it,” Jeffries said.
Already, signs across Gulf Coast communities—like Pensacola Beach in Florida—have begun to reflect the name change, reading “Gulf of America.”
Whether this rebranding becomes law nationwide depends on the Senate’s next move.
