The US Treasury Department has just announced a historic change: According to the plan, the first 100 USD bills printed with the signatures of Mr. Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will be issued from June, before expanding to other denominations. However, it will take a few weeks before new bills will begin circulating in the banking system.
Notably, this change meant the end of the tradition that lasted from 1861 - when US federal banknotes were first issued - that there was always a signature of the US Treasury Governor on the money. The last person to hold this position with a signature appearing on the money was Mrs. Lynn Malerba.
Meanwhile, the Treasury Department is still continuing to print banknotes signed by Treasury Secretary under President Joe Biden, Janet Yellen, and Treasury Governor Malerba.
Officials said that the overall design of the banknotes will not change, except that the President's signature replaces the position that originally belonged to the Treasury Governor. This adjustment is within the legal framework allowing the Ministry of Finance to change the design to strengthen counterfeiting prevention, as long as the core elements are maintained such as the slogan "In God We Trust" and portraits of deceased figures.
The new move is seen as part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to put personal imprints on national symbols - from public works, federal programs to commemorative coins. Previously, a federal art council approved the design of a gold coin with a Trump image, although current law does not allow portraits of survivors on circulating coins.
Speaking about this decision, Minister Scott Bessent said that this is a "suitable" step on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the country, while emphasizing the economic achievements in Mr. Trump's second term.
There is no stronger way to mark the historical achievements of the country and President Donald J. Trump than to put his name on the USD," Mr. Bessent said.
