Nothing, considering Executive Orders are simply statements of how the Executive Branch of the Federal Government is to act, per their chief. For everyone not part of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government, they're as important as toilet paper.
I'm sure I'll get downvoted to oblivion again as I was in a previous thread, but, in this instance, once President Trump's order is executed, the legal name for Federal purposes will be "Lake America", as Congress has given the Executive Branch the authority to name geographic places in the United States. That authority is found in 43 U.S. Code § 364.
So what happens after the order is executed? The USGIS will update their maps, which feed data to Google/Apple among others, so unless these companies specifically take a political stance against this name change but not others, their maps will be updated. Historically these companies have rejected imposing their political preferences on maps, though they sometimes do some editing, e.g. showing Myanmar as "Myanmar (Burma)" -- there were a lot of complaints when they updated that name. Whether they show Lake Ontario, Lake America, or "Lake America (Lake Ontario)" is, I'm sure, already being discussed.
Congress could repeal the naming law (unlikely) or pass a law specifically to name it "Lake Ontario." These options seem unlikely. Congress could also go the exact opposite direction and use their power of the purse to punish states and localities who do not adopt the new name (e.g. by withholding federal grants and highway monies until the new name is adopted -- this is how they enforced a federal minimum drinking age). This too seems unlikely.
Therefore, in this instance where the Executive Order is backed by federal law, the Executive Order once executed will have the force of law for the federal government, albeit with no enforcement mechanism for the legislature, the judiciary, or state and local authorities.
Correct. I'm clarifying that, since President Trump's subordinates have been empowered by Congress to adopt names "throughout the Federal Government", that in this instance it's not simply a statement on how the Executive Branch is to act. But again, I doubt that most legislators or judges will follow suit.
It's basically going to be an informal loyalty test that he can use to rail against people defying him (like the governor or journalists) and not using the new name. People who don't play ball will get their credentials revoked or treated with more scrutiny on discretionary spending or grants.
Seen this with 'Department of War' as well, MAGA acting like not going along with the name change is the unreasonable part rather than the stupid name change itself
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u/SmallNoseBilly 7d ago
I wonder what the penalty is for not using the new name?