The White House announced that this move aims to recognize the outstanding contributions of the American people and the rich heritage of American history by naming significant natural landmarks after shared achievements. This policy was announced by US President Donald Trump in Executive Order 14172 (Restoring Names that Highlight American Greatness), issued on January 20, 2025. The order directs the Secretary of the Interior, in coordination with the Board on Geographic Names, to take all appropriate actions within 30 days to rename Lake Ontario to "Lake America."