Trump administration officials have been pressuring the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design a $250 bill featuring President Trump's portrait, the Washington Post reported on Thursday, the 28th.

If the Treasury Department were to proceed with this plan, it would be the first time in history since 1866 that the face of a living person appeared on a banknote. The $250 bill is intended to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States.

The issue is that under the Thayer Amendment, passed in 1866, it is illegal to place the portrait of a living person on U.S. currency, bonds, or other financial instruments.

Nevertheless, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and his senior advisor, Mike Brown, have been pushing for the development of the new banknote, with Beach providing drafts to staff in August and September of last year, according to the Post.

The drafts reportedly showed President Trump's face in the center of the $250 bill, with the signatures of the President and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on either side.

Bureau of Engraving and Printing Director Patricia Solimene reportedly protested to Beach and Brown, stating that there were legal and other obstacles the bureau would have to overcome to issue a new banknote.

The Washington Post, citing anonymous sources, reported that Solimene said, "We don't have the authority to do that," and added, "Especially for new, high-denomination banknotes like this, it typically takes six to eight years."

According to the Washington Post, Solimene was transferred to another department on April 27th and told her colleagues that she was leaving her position "with a heavy heart" and that the change was "not of my choosing."

Brown has become the interim director, filling Solimene's vacant position.

In addition to the Thayer Amendment, there is another law that restricts the U.S. government from funding specific denominations; $250 is not on that list. Title 12, Section 418 of the U.S. Code, "Printing of notes; denominations and form," states that the denominations of currency notes issued by the government are limited to $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000.

As speculation about President Trump issuing a banknote with his face on it has persisted in Congress, several Democratic lawmakers have introduced legislation to prevent it.

In April, Representative Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.) introduced a bill to prohibit President Trump's signature from appearing on banknotes. Last year, several senators unveiled legislation to prevent President Trump's face from appearing on coins.

Conversely, in February 2025, Representative Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) introduced a bill ordering the Treasury Secretary to issue a $250 Federal Reserve note with a portrait of Donald Trump. This bill was referred to the House Financial Services Committee but has not yet been considered.

Representative Brandon Gill (R-Texas) introduced a bill last year to place Trump's face on the $100 bill, following Benjamin Franklin. Representative Andy Barr (R-Ky.) also submitted a bill to Congress to place Trump's face on the $250 bill, but it is pending.

The Treasury Department declined to comment on Solimene's transfer but stated in a release that Treasury Secretary Beach "never directed staff to print banknotes before they were approved by Congress."

The Washington Post reported, citing four employees, that Solimene and her staff had agreed to another request from the administration: to print $100 bills with President Trump's signature.

The Treasury Department stated in a release: "At the recommendation of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, Secretary Bessent will sign currency to honor our great nation and President Trump's historic achievements."

By Hong Sung-goo, Editor-in-Chief, NNP (NNP info@newsandpost.com)