Overview
- Treasury officials confirmed they have mock-up designs and are doing planning and due diligence for a $250 commemorative note that shows President Trump, and Secretary Scott Bessent publicly displayed a sample.
- Federal law since 1866 prohibits living people on U.S. currency so Congress would have to pass new legislation to allow a $250 bill bearing a sitting president’s portrait.
- Two Trump political appointees at Treasury, Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown, pushed Bureau of Engraving and Printing staff to prepare prototypes and the bureau’s director Patricia Solimene was reassigned after raising procedural objections.
- BEP staff and experts say producing a new high‑denomination note requires years of work on anti‑counterfeit features, ATM compatibility and coordination with the Federal Reserve and Secret Service, making quick issuance unlikely.
- A bill introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson would mandate the note but has remained stalled in committee and would need wide Senate support to change the law, while the administration has already advanced Trump‑related commemorative coins and signature changes.