Hacker News Reader

Comment by idontwantthis | Hacker News Reader

Can someone clarify for me: This isn’t actually something a president can do or compel, right? There is no act I’m aware of that makes the President the Geography Czar. I picture the next Dem president (God willing), not changing it back, but issuing a statement saying that the name never actually changed just because the last twat said so.

View on HN

This president’s view appears to be that if it happens in the executive branch he has 100% arbitrary personal control over it. He’s the CEO of the government and he makes the calls. If someone claims there’s a legal reason he can’t do it, he has mediocre but prolific lawyers to deal with that.

He’s worked this way for decades; why stop now just because he’s got a new job?

Here [1] is a document (there is a PDF link on the page, since it's on AWS I don't think the direct link is persistent) describing how the BGN sources the names, the relevant part for you is this:

"Geographic names and their applications specifically established by an act of Congress, Executive order, Treaty, or Federal proclamation are official by law."

1. https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/us-board-geographic-names-p...

Exec branch has the authority to direct the U.S. Board on Geographic Names as it's under the US Dept of the Interior.

That does mean the U.S. Gov't / federal depts have to use the recommendation from the board I believe as they control the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), and it cascades from there.

So technically yes. That being said, I think Trump had the Board undo some of the changes the board enacted under Biden so it will likely just flow back.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com