House Republican Frustration Surges Over Trump Ally's Gulf of America Legislation
Fired-Up Fracas: GOP Dissension Brews Over Trump's Gulf of America Rename
Chuck Hurt takes a spin on an oil rig in the Gulf of America with Energy Secretary Doug Burgum on 'Fox & Friends Weekend.'
A contentious vote on keeping President Donald Trump's Gulf of America name change permanent is causing some grumbling within the House GOP conference.
Numerous House Republicans who chatted with our site Digital voiced their displeasure over House GOP leaders deciding to spend time on what they deemed a largely ceremonial action in an otherwise light legislative week. This disagreement comes as GOP negotiators work hard to reconcile disparities on Medicaid, tax policy, and green energy subsidies, aiming to pass Trump's mega-bill by Independence Day.
"This is a time where we should be in our districts, attending graduations, ensuring we're listening to people with tariff issues," an approachable GOP lawmaker who asked to remain anonymous expressed.
"Instead, we're wasting time on this...it's frustrating for someone who has a lot of practical legislation waiting in the queue to be heard. Instead, we're focusing on pomp and ceremony. It's not what I came here to do."
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Donald Trump posed for a snap aboard Air Force One as he prepared to sign a proclamation declaring Feb. 9 Gulf of America Day. (AP/Ben Curtis)
But the discontent isn't limited to moderate and mainstream Republicans. A conservative GOP lawmaker grumbled to our site Digital, "Out of 125 other [executive orders], this is the one we pick."
"People are peeved that we're not working on something more critical," the conservative lawmaker fumed.
Two insiders privy to House Republicans' whip team meeting revealed that at least three GOP lawmakers raised concerns about the bill—Reps. Don Bacon, R-Neb., Jay Obernolte, R-Calif., and Glenn Grothman, R-Wis.
One of the sources described their sentiments as, "They just think it's kind of insignificant or not serious."
"I've heard criticisms from all corners of the conference. Conservatives to pragmatic ones," Bacon told our site Digital. "It seems foolish. The United States is better than this."
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene spearheaded the bill. (REUTERS/Jim Bourg)
Bacon is among the Republicans lobbying for a cautious approach to Medicaid cuts in Trump's multi-trillion-dollar bill, while other GOP lawmakers advocate for deeper cuts.
Grothman declined to confirm or deny his concerns, telling our site Digital, "That's behind-the-scenes stuff."
Obernolte's office did not reply to requests for comment before deadline.
Although the concerns haven't come from a substantial number of the entire conference, any degree of defections is meaningful due to the GOP's fragile House majority.
With all lawmakers present in the chamber, Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., can currently lose up to three votes to still pass something along party lines.
It's also a sign of Trump's continued grip on Capitol Hill starting to irk some Republican lawmakers.
It's unclear whether the lawmakers who expressed concerns will vote against the final bill, though, particularly under pressure from House GOP leaders.
A third House Republican who chatted with our site Digital anonymously acknowledged the frustrations, but nevertheless said, "It's not the hill to die on."
Worth pointing out is that congressional Republicans have already passed several bills promoting Trump's agenda, including resolutions to roll back key Biden administration policies. Their primary focus in budget reconciliation, Trump's "big, beautiful bill," is the GOP negotiators' current priority.
The Gulf of America Act was introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., a staunch Trump ally. When approached for comment on some GOP lawmakers' reservations, Greene told our site Digital, "Codifying the rightful renaming of the Gulf of America isn't just a priority for me and President Trump, it's a priority for the American people. American taxpayers fund its protection, our military defends its waters, and American businesses fuel its economy. My bill advances President Trump's America First agenda."
"If certain moderate Republicans want to start elsewhere, where do they suggest?" she continued. "I have bills ready for all of it. But let's be clear, we should be voting to codify every single executive order President Trump issues."
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The bill is currently set to get a vote on Thursday morning, and Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., promoted it during his House GOP leadership press conference on Tuesday.
"We're going to pass Marjorie Taylor Greene's bill to permanently rename the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of America. And then we're going to codify dozens more of President Trump's budget-related executive orders, spending-related executive orders through the budget reconciliation process," Johnson said.
Rep. Jimmy Patronis, R-Fla., posted on Twitter in response to the speaker, "This will be a tremendous economic driver for my district. Families across the country will flock to the Florida Panhandle to be the FIRST to enjoy the Gulf of AMERICA!"
The White House did not immediately respond to our site Digital's request for comment.
Elizabeth Elkind is a politics reporter for our site Digital leading coverage of the House of Representatives. Previous digital bylines seen at Daily Mail and CBS News.
Connect with her on Twitter at @liz_elkind and send tips to [email protected]
Enrichment Data:The House vote to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America—initiated through Senate Bill 1717 and supported by concurrent resolutions in Texas[1]—is met with criticism, although the provided sources do not explicitly detail House Republican concerns. However, potential ramifications for Trump's energy dominance agenda can be inferred.
Policy Alignment and Symbolism: The renaming effort, which proponents like Texas Sen. Mayes Middleton[1] frame as a celebration of "American Exceptionalism," falls in line with Trump-era nationalist rhetoric, potentially reinforcing ideological cohesion among supporters. Critics, including some Democrats in the Texas debate, argue the change is politically motivated and lacks substantive policy justification[1].
Energy Agenda Implications: Although the sources don't directly link the name change to energy policy, the Gulf of Mexico plays a central role in U.S. offshore oil production. Symbolically rebranding it could potentially serve as a precursor to future regulatory or jurisdictional efforts to assert federal or state control over energy resources, a cornerstone of Trump's "energy dominance" strategy. The lack of reported fiscal burdens[1] suggests minimal immediate economic impact, enabling focus on ideological messaging over resource allocation.
The sources indicate bipartisan skepticism (e.g., Democratic concerns about historical significance[1]), but no explicit House Republican objections. The vote’s timing, amid broader legislative priorities, could amplify tensions if viewed as prioritizing nomenclature over tangible policy outcomes. Recent updates confirm the House is advancing the bill[2], reflecting continued momentum for Trump-aligned symbolic gestures.
- House Republicans are angry about spending time on a ceremonial action like the Gulf of America name change, when there are more pressing issues like Medicaid, tax policy, and green energy subsidies to address.
- Some conservative House Republicans are also frustrated with the name change, as they believe it is insignificant compared to other executive orders that need attention.
- Concerns have been raised by at least three GOP lawmakers, including Reps. Don Bacon, Jay Obernolte, and Glenn Grothman, about the bill, with some calling it a waste of time and others criticizing its insignificance.
- The discontent isn't limited to moderates and mainstream Republicans; even conservative lawmakers are expressing their dissatisfaction with the name change, claiming it is a distraction from more important policy-and-legislation matters.
- Congressional Republicans are focusing their efforts on passing Trump's "big, beautiful bill," which aims to enact Trump's agenda. The Gulf of America Act, while a priority for some, is seen by others as not worth fighting over, and not necessarily a hill worth dying on.
