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By Amanda Castro
Associate News Editor
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Treasury Department officials are advancing internal plans for a new $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump, according to new reporting. The effort matters because federal law has barred living people from appearing on U.S. currency since 1866.
The proposal could trigger a legal and logistical clash that affects the Treasury, Congress and the timeline for America’s 250th anniversary on July 4.
The Washington Post obtained a mock‑up of the proposed bill, which shows Trump’s portrait centered above the words “250 AMERICA.” The design resembles a version shared in January by Representative Andy Barr, a Kentucky Republican, who posed with a giant replica of the bill alongside U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, one of the officials reportedly urging the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to move forward.
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A Design Trump 'Loved,' Artist Says
British artist Iain Alexander, who created the mock‑up circulated by Barr, told the Post that Trump “absolutely loved it,” adding momentum to an idea circulating among Trump‑aligned Treasury officials.
The enthusiasm, however, runs directly into a long-standing legal barrier as federal statute prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency. The last time it happened was 1866, and Congress outlawed it immediately afterward.
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Why the Plan Violates Federal Law
The federal statute enacted in 1866 bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency, a rule created after the government briefly allowed a Treasury official’s portrait on a 5‑cent note. The restriction has remained in place ever since, meaning the Treasury cannot legally produce a $250 bill with Trump’s image unless Congress changes the law.
That legal barrier is central to the current dispute: Even with internal enthusiasm and early design work, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) lacks authority to proceed without congressional approval. Former BEP Director Larry R. Felix underscored that point, saying a $250 note is “not statutorily authorized” and that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent would need explicit direction from lawmakers before any production could begin.
Treasury Says It Is Preparing—If Congress Acts
A Treasury spokesperson told the Post that the BEP is conducting “appropriate planning and due diligence” in response to active legislation.
“Should this legislative mandate be signed into law, the BEP is moving proactively to produce a $250 commemorative note which will appropriately recognize the 250th Anniversary of our great nation,” the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also said that Beach “never asked staff to print the bill before congressional passage.”
Internal Tension Over Timeline and Authority
Current and former employees told the Post that producing a new denomination typically takes six to eight years, especially one of high value. That timeline would push well past the 2026 semiquincentennial.
“These guys think you can just print something overnight and it’s going to work in an ATM. It’s just crazy,” one employee said. “It takes years and years and years to produce these notes so they are reliable for the public.”
The internal friction reportedly contributed to the reassignment of BEP Director Patricia “Patty” Solimene in late April. Staffers said Solimene and others repeatedly warned Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown that the agency lacked authorization and that key stakeholders had not met to discuss next steps.
In a farewell message obtained by the Post, Solimene wrote that she “never sacrificed the values or character of myself or the organization” and that “the buck stopped here.”
Parallel Push for Trump Gold Coins Also Faces Delays
The $250 bill proposal follows earlier plans to mint gold coins bearing Trump’s likeness, images of which Beach shared on social media. The coins, like the bill, are unlikely to be ready in time for the 250th anniversary.
A Treasury spokesperson confirmed that Trump’s signature appears on the potential currency design, saying Bessent accepted the recommendation from Beach to “recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Trump.”
The agency emphasized that no taxpayer dollars were used because the BEP is self‑funded.
Legislation Exists But Has Stalled
The push inside Treasury aligns with a bill introduced in February 2025 by Representative Joe Wilson, a South Carolina Republican, who proposed the Donald J. Trump $250 Bill Act. The legislation would amend federal law to allow living presidents on currency and require the Treasury to print the new note within a year of enactment.
Wilson’s bill was referred to the House Financial Services Committee but has not received a hearing. His office told the Post that Bessent and Trump “have spoken with Rep. Wilson about their support for this on multiple occasions.”
In a statement to Newsweek, Wilson’s spokesperson expanded on that point, saying: “Congressman Wilson and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Hill have spoken about moving the $250 bill legislation forward multiple times. We can also confirm that both Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump have spoken with Congressman Wilson about their support for this on multiple occasions.”
Wilson’s office also provided a copy of a letter sent to him by Beach on May 19, 2025, expressing explicit support for the effort. In the letter, Beach wrote that he backed Wilson’s push for a $250 bill with Trump’s portrait and acknowledged the legal barrier, noting: “I am aware of the law that does not allow living people to appear on our currency.”
“As the new Treasurer of the United States, you have my full support.…If you need mockups of a $250.00 bill to help you during the legislative process, do not hesitate to reach out.…”
Wilson’s office also pointed to a February 2025 press release that framed the bill as both symbolic and practical. The release argued that a higher‑value note would “help families carry less cash” and that it offered an opportunity to “recognize the President of the United States during the 250th anniversary.”
Wilson also tied the proposal to economic messaging, saying: “Bidenflation has destroyed the economy forcing American families to carry more cash. President Trump is working tirelessly to fight inflation and help American families. This achievement is deserving of currency recognition, which is why I am grateful to introduce this legislation. The most valuable bill for the most valuable President.”
Original co‑sponsors included Republican Representatives Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, Ralph Norman of South Carolina and Darrell Issa of California.
"Right now there is legislation before Congress to allow a living person—Donald J Trump—could be on a $250 bill," Bessent said on Thursday. "So it's all in the hands of Capitol Hill. We have prepared in advance."
Without congressional action, the proposal remains symbolic—and legally blocked.
What Happens Next
The BEP continues preliminary planning, but the agency cannot legally produce the bill unless Congress changes the 1866 restriction. Even if lawmakers act, experts say the production timeline makes it unlikely the note would be ready for the 2026 celebrations.
For now, the $250 bill remains a political statement, a design exercise and a test of how far the administration can push the boundaries of federal currency rules.
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