Google Maps relabels Lake Ontario as Lake America

Donald Trump’s executive order, issued last month, requires federal agencies and contractors to change references to “Washington, D.C.” to “Washington, District of Columbia.” In response, Google has become the first major online maps provider to implement the new designation on its platform. The change appears on Google Maps, the company’s navigation app, and in its search results, replacing the familiar abbreviation with the full name.

The order, which was signed by the president as part of a broader effort to standardize geographic terminology, has prompted a flurry of updates across the tech industry. While the change is largely cosmetic, it signals a shift in how digital services handle official place names. Google’s swift action may encourage other map services, such as Apple Maps and Bing Maps, to follow suit, ensuring consistency across federal and commercial platforms.