New Mexico lawmakers urge Apple and Google to retain state name

New Mexico’s congressional delegation, led by Senator Ben Ray Luján, has formally requested that technology companies Apple and Google commit to maintaining the state’s current name on their mapping services. The request follows social media posts by President Donald Trump suggesting the state be renamed ‘New America.’

While the president does not have the unilateral authority to change a state's legal name—a process that would likely require congressional and state action—lawmakers are taking the proposal seriously due to previous federal geographic name changes appearing on digital maps. The delegation has asked the tech giants to publicly commit to using ‘New Mexico’ by September 18.

Mapping companies typically rely on the federal Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) for official data. Although companies can raise formal objections, the GNIS serves as the primary database for services like Apple Maps and Google Maps. New Mexico has held its current name for over 450 years.