Sponsors (16)
The bill creates a commemorative $250 note and clarifies that living Presidents cannot appear on currency—offering symbolic recognition and clearer design rules while imposing production and operational costs, risking public confusion, and narrowing options for honoring living leaders.
All Americans gain a clear, statutory rule preventing living Presidents from appearing on U.S. currency, reducing the risk of partisan or promotional uses of official portraits.
The Treasury and federal employees get clearer statutory guidance on who may appear on currency, which should simplify design decisions and reduce litigation or policy disputes.
All Americans could see a new $250 denomination introduced as a semiquincentennial commemorative, providing a visible national celebration and additional variety in U.S. banknotes.
Taxpayers may bear additional production, distribution, and administrative costs to design, print, and (if needed) revise currency and security designs to accommodate a new denomination or commemorative issue.
Consumers, small businesses, banks, and other cash handlers could face confusion and operational costs because a nonstandard $250 denomination may require updates to cash‑handling systems and public education.
Using a living or recently serving political figure on currency (if allowed) could politicize U.S. money and provoke legal or public controversy, undermining perceptions of neutrality.
Based on analysis of 4 sections of legislative text.
Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to print a new $250 Federal Reserve note featuring a portrait of Donald J. Trump and to begin printing no later than one year after enactment. It also changes the rule on portraits so living persons may appear on U.S. currency and securities, while creating an explicit ban on portraits of current or former Presidents — a provision that appears to conflict with the requirement to put a former President on the $250 note. The bill sets no funding or implementation details beyond the one-year start date.
Introduced February 27, 2025 by Joe Wilson · Last progress February 27, 2025