After ‘Gulf of America,’ Lauren Boebert Eyes ‘District of America’ as New MAGA Rename

Boebert Floats 'District of America' Name Change

In a surprising remark during a congressional hearing, Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) hinted that the Trump administration may be quietly working to rename Washington, D.C., to the “District of America.”

“I would caution my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to refrain from making fun of the ‘Gulf of America’ because next up, you know it may end up being the ‘District of America’ that we’re working on,” Boebert said during a Water, Fisheries and Wildlife Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday. “So just, you know, keep the jokes at bay, and maybe we'll just stick with the Gulf of America for now.” Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia

'Gulf of America' Idea Slammed as Satirical Leftover

The comment followed Democratic Rep. Jared Huffman’s criticism of Republican-backed renaming efforts, particularly the proposed rebranding of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America.” Executive Office of the President of the United States / Wikimedia

Colbert’s Satire Used to Critique Oil Spill Response

Huffman noted that the phrase was originally coined as satire by Stephen Colbert in 2010, during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster that wreaked havoc in the Gulf, claiming 11 lives and spilling nearly 5 million barrels of oil.

“Colbert used the name change as a gimmick to raise awareness of the disaster,” Huffman said. “It dragged on for five months – something our Republican friends seem to have forgotten about as they advance to a dirty drilling agenda.” Ike Hayman, House Creative Services / Wikimedia

Boebert Doubles Down on MAGA Energy Platform

Boebert, a staunch supporter of Donald Trump’s energy policies, including the “Drill Baby Drill” mantra, has consistently aligned herself with MAGA priorities. She previously made headlines in 2022 when she arrived at the State of the Union address wearing a shawl emblazoned with the same slogan.

In her energy platform, Boebert backs the development of all forms of domestic energy — from renewables to fossil fuels — claiming to balance environmental stewardship with economic opportunity. She also famously proposed placing Trump’s face on the $100 bill. Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia

Huffman Blasts Trump-Backed ‘DOGE Administration’

Huffman, meanwhile, expressed concern about what he described as a “chaotic government takeover” under the Trump and Elon Musk-backed DOGE administration. He condemned recent federal cuts that have gutted environmental agencies, stating, “Fish and Wildlife had lost almost 50 percent of their team,” including key scientific staff. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

370 Wildlife Workers Laid Off in Budget Cuts

The National Wildlife Refuge System confirmed in February that approximately 370 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employees were laid off due to budget reductions — layoffs they characterized as “a direct attack on science-based conservation and the future of America’s wildlife.” Pixabay / Pexels

Huffman: “The Joke Is on Us”

In Huffman's view, “It is weirdly appropriate that they are taking what started out as a joke and actually moving it forward as part of their ‘Drill Baby Drill’ agenda — and unfortunately that means the joke is on us.” JD Lasica / Wikimedia