Beginning this summer, U.S. paper currency will carry President Donald Trump’s signature, marking the first occasion a sitting president has signed American money. This announcement came from the Treasury Department as part of a redesign to commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Notably, the new notes will also eliminate the signature of the U.S. Treasurer, a position responsible for overseeing the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the U.S. Mint, and other Treasury functions. This change ends a 165-year tradition of including the Treasurer’s signature on federal currency, a practice that began in 1861 when the government first issued paper money.
The initial $100 bills featuring Trump’s signature alongside that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are scheduled for printing in June, with other denominations to follow in the coming months. It may take several weeks for these redesigned bills to enter circulation through banks. Meanwhile, the Treasury continues to produce notes bearing the signatures of former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and former Treasurer Lynn Malerba.
In a significant development, Malerba will be the last Treasurer to have her signature on U.S. currency, marking the end of an unbroken line of Treasurers since the Civil War era. This signature update is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration and its supporters to affix the president’s name to various government entities, including buildings, programs, warships, and coins.
Recently, a federal arts panel, with members appointed by Trump, approved a commemorative gold coin featuring the president’s image. Treasury Secretary Bessent praised the signature change as fitting for the nation’s Semiquincentennial, highlighting strong economic growth and financial stability during Trump’s second term. He stated, “There is no more powerful way to recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Donald J. Trump than U.S. dollar bills bearing his name.”
Efforts to introduce a circulating $1 coin with Trump’s likeness were hindered by laws prohibiting living individuals from appearing on U.S. coins. The statute governing Federal Reserve note printing grants the Treasury broad authority to modify designs to prevent counterfeiting, while mandating the retention of certain elements such as the phrase “In God We Trust” and restricting portraits to deceased individuals.
Aside from replacing the Treasurer’s signature with Trump’s, the overall design of the bills will remain unchanged. A prototype of the $100 bill featuring Trump’s signature has not yet been released. Former Treasurer Malerba declined to comment on the administration’s decision, while her predecessor Jovita Carranza, who served during Trump’s first term, described the change as “a powerful symbol of American resilience, the enduring strength of free enterprise and the promise of continued greatness.”
Current Treasurer Brandon Beach, whose signature has not appeared on currency, also expressed support, calling Trump the architect of a “golden age economic revival.”
