Treasury Scraps Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Plan on July 9, 2026

The Trump administration has scrapped plans to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced on Monday. The decision marks the second time the effort has been halted. The plan to replace Andrew Jackson with Tubman, an abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor, was first announced in 2016 under President Obama and was originally set to launch in 2020.

A decade-long effort comes to an end

Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced the Tubman redesign in 2016 as part of a broader currency update. The bill was supposed to debut in 2020, coinciding with the centennial of the 19th Amendment. During Trump’s first term, the timeline shifted to 2028. Now, Bessent told Spectrum News the administration is “not at present” planning to move forward with the redesign.

Why the Trump administration reversed course

Bessent did not provide detailed reasons for the cancellation. However, when asked about the Trump administration’s simultaneous push to print a $250 bill featuring President Trump’s face, Bessent explained the difference: “The 250 requires an act of Congress,” he said, noting that federal law prohibits living people from appearing on U.S. currency. “For us to change an existing bill, whether it’s $1 through $100, takes many years in advance,” Bessent added.

What Tubman would have represented

Tubman would have been the first Black person to appear on U.S. paper currency. She escaped slavery and helped others flee via the Underground Railroad, later serving in the Union Army during the Civil War. Advocates praised the original plan as recognition of women and Black Americans on currency. Opponents called it political correctness. The latest announcement leaves the future of the redesign uncertain, and the administration has not said whether it will consider other ways to honor Tubman or women on U.S. currency.

Trump’s past position on the change

During his 2016 campaign, Trump said Tubman was “fantastic” but called the plan “pure political correctness.” He suggested placing her on “another denomination” would be “more appropriate,” proposing the two-dollar bill. That bill is no longer produced. The Biden administration attempted to accelerate the redesign in 2021, with White House press secretary Jen Psaki stating that U.S. currency should “reflect the history and diversity of our country.”

Final Thoughts

The cancellation leaves Harriet Tubman off the $20 bill indefinitely. Andrew Jackson will remain on the note. The administration has not signaled plans to pursue alternative ways to honor Tubman on U.S. currency.

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