The Trump administration is abandoning an Obama-era plan to put African American abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill in place of former President Andrew Jackson.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed the move in an interview with Spectrum News. When asked whether his department is moving forward with the new $20 bill, Bessent said, “We are not at present.” He did not provide a reason.
Tubman’s potential appearance on the U.S. currency was initially floated by the Obama administration a decade ago. The first Trump administration shelved the plan until it was revived by the Biden administration. Under the second Trump administration, the move is on pause again.
While running for office in 2016, President Donald Trump called the Tubman bill “pure political correctness” and suggested the 1800s abolitionist be featured on a different denomination of money.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department is prepared to print Trump’s likeness on a yet-to-be-released $250 bill in honor of the nation’s 250th birthday if Congress grants approval.
Asked about the difference between the administration’s treatment of the $20 bill compared to the $250 bill, Bessent said it’s more difficult to change an existing dollar bill.
“The 250 requires an act of Congress, because you can’t have a living person [on U.S. currency], and it was to commit [sic] – for the 250th anniversary,” he told Spectrum News. “For us to change an existing bill, whether it’s $1 through $100 takes many years in advance.”
Over the past 10 years, Democrats have introduced legislation to put Tubman’s face on the $20 bill. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who is one of those lawmakers, said in a statement to Spectrum News that she was “extremely disappointed” by the latest development.
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“Commemorating Harriet Tubman would have been the perfect way to honor the women who helped build this country and bravely stood up for freedom and equality throughout our nation’s remarkable 250-year history,” she said. “Though Secretary Bessent may be more interested in illegally plastering Donald Trump’s image on a $250 bill, putting a woman on a U.S. bill remains long overdue, and I will keep focusing on finding a path to honor Harriet Tubman’s patriotism and sacrifice.”
Shaheen reintroduced the measure in March 2025, requiring Tubman’s image to be on all $20 bills after Dec. 31, 2030. It has not made much progress in the Senate since then. Rep. Joyce Beatty (D-OH) also filed similar legislation in the House last year.
