August 28, 2026

For SHAME: Presidential Name Change Ignores Great Lakes Realities

Lake Ontario is a binational Great Lake that millions of people depend on. Rather than changing its name, let's focus on protecting and restoring the waters that sustain our communities, economy, and way of life.

By Howard A. Learner, Chief Executive Officer & President

Yesterday, President Trump issued a peculiar Executive Order unilaterally declaring that the binational Lake Ontario should be named “Lake America”. What the heck is he doing? Most Midwesterners learned the Great Lakes as HOMES – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie and Superior. Now, he wants HAMES? SHAME? Come on. What’s he thinking?

In a world of the devastating Iran War that hasn’t ended, inflated prices for daily goods, energy affordability concerns, and floods and droughts in many places in our country, why is changing the name of Lake Ontario the President’s focus for even two minutes? That doesn’t serve to “Making the Great Lakes Even Greater” as the Pres. Trump suggests.

The Great Lakes is where we live, work and play. We all love the Great Lakes. In political terms, the overwhelming bipartisan support is actually nonpartisan. Congress has consistently funded the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative at the $350 million to $450 million level under both Republican and Democratic leaderships in Congress. This year, that strong bipartisan Congressional support resulted in $369 million for the annual federal budget.

So, let’s go about “Making the Great Lakes Even Greater” by working even harder to actually protect and restore the Great Lakes. Let’s focus on addressing the real problems faced by many Americans, not picking playground fights by changing the name of Lake Ontario, which is binational and is shared by the United States and Canada. We ALL love the Great Lakes.

Howard A. Learner,

Chief Executive Officer & President

Howard Learner is an experienced attorney serving as the Chief Executive Officer & President of the Environmental Law & Policy Center. He is responsible for ELPC’s overall strategic leadership, policy direction, and financial platform.

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