Treasury plans to put Trump's signature on all new U.S. paper currency in break with tradition - PBS

PBS
March 27, 2026
3 min read

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The Bottom Line

Treasury plans to add Trump's signature to all new U.S. paper currency, breaking 150+ years of tradition.

How This Affects You

Every new bill you handle will bear Trump's signature instead of only the Treasury Secretary's, changing the appearance of currency you use daily.

AI Summary

The Treasury Department plans to place President Trump's signature on all new U.S. paper currency, departing from a tradition that has governed whose likeness and name appear on bills. By convention, only deceased presidents and historical figures have been featured on currency, and Treasury secretaries' signatures have appeared as part of the standard design—but Trump's signature would be added in a new capacity. This move represents a significant break from long-standing practice and raises questions about the scope of presidential authority over currency design. The change would affect all newly printed bills going forward, making Trump's name visible on the most widely circulated form of American money. This development underscores the Trump administration's willingness to reshape institutional norms established over more than a century.

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