A group of Democratic senators has urged the Trump administration to revive plans to feature anti-slavery activist Harriet Tubman on the U.S. $20 bill after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the department was no longer pursuing the redesign. Led by Senators Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the lawmakers called on the Treasury Department to reconsider its decision and continue the long-delayed project.
The proposal, first announced during the Obama administration in 2016, aimed to replace former President Andrew Jackson with Tubman, who was born into slavery and later helped hundreds of enslaved people escape to freedom. Had the redesign moved forward, Tubman would have become the first African American to appear on the face of U.S. paper currency. In their letter, the senators argued that abandoning the initiative disregards years of work and extensive public engagement.
The decision comes amid discussions within the current administration about placing President Donald Trump’s image on a proposed $250 bill to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence. However, Treasury officials have acknowledged that federal law currently prohibits living individuals from appearing on U.S. currency, meaning any such change would require approval from Congress. Meanwhile, a commemorative $1 coin featuring Trump, authorized under a 2020 law, is already in production.
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