The Treasury Department is conducting preliminary work on a commemorative $250 Federal Reserve note featuring President Trump, according to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. The initiative aligns with House legislation currently in committee that would require the Secretary of the Treasury to print such currency within one year of enactment.

House bill 1761, introduced by Representative Joe Wilson (R-SC) on February 27, 2025, proposes amending existing law to allow living former presidents—specifically Donald J. Trump—to appear on U.S. currency. The legislation states that the Treasury must print $250 bills bearing Trump’s portrait “to commemorate the semiquincentennial of the United States.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the Bureau is performing early planning under existing legal frameworks, emphasizing compliance with congressional authorization. The bill directly addresses a longstanding prohibition on depicting living individuals on currency by modifying Section 5114(b) of Title 31, United States Code.

The proposal has drawn immediate criticism from House Democrats and Senator Mark Warner, who have highlighted the contradiction between commemorative currency and current law barring living presidents from appearing on notes. Republican support remains strong, with representatives like Andy Barr previously endorsing mockups of the bill.

While Congress must still act to advance the legislation, Treasury officials maintain that preparatory work is consistent with statutory requirements and does not constitute final approval or implementation of the proposed design.