Treasury Secretary Bessent Halts Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Redesign

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced that the Trump administration has abandoned a decade-long plan to place abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. The project, which sought to replace Andrew Jackson, was first launched by the Obama administration in 2016 and later revived under the Biden administration. Bessent stated that changing an existing bill requires many years of advance preparation and confirmed that the Treasury Department is not currently moving forward with the redesign.

Simultaneously, the Treasury Department is preparing a proposal for a commemorative $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump to mark the 250th anniversary of the United States. Bessent noted that because federal law prohibits living persons from appearing on U.S. currency, the $250 bill would require an act of Congress. He emphasized that the department will abide by existing law unless Congress approves the change.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen expressed disappointment over the decision, arguing that commemorating Tubman would have honored the women who helped build the country. Shaheen suggested that the administration is prioritizing the image of Donald Trump over the legacy of the abolitionist.