WASHINGTON: US paper currency will soon feature the signature of sitting President Donald Trump, marking a historic first, the Treasury Department announced on Thursday. The change is set to take effect this summer as part of commemorations for the 250th anniversary of American independence.
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The redesigned notes will also introduce another major shift by removing the long-standing signature of the US treasurer, a feature that has appeared on American currency since 1861. The move ends a 165-year tradition tied to the office that oversees key financial institutions, including the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the US Mint.
Breaking News: President Trump’s signature will appear on American currency, in a first for a sitting U.S. president. https://t.co/rRiMR7PSKO
— The New York Times (@nytimes) March 26, 2026
The first $100 bills bearing Trump’s signature, alongside that of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are expected to be printed in June. Officials said it may take several weeks for the new notes to enter general circulation through banks.
Current currency in production still carries the signatures of former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and former US Treasurer Lynn Malerba. Malerba is expected to be the last treasurer whose signature appears on US federal notes.
Treasury officials clarified that the overall design of the currency will remain unchanged, with only the signature field being updated. Legal requirements mandate that certain elements, including the phrase “In God We Trust,” remain intact, and that portraits on US currency depict only deceased individuals.
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The initiative reflects a broader effort by the administration to mark national milestones and highlight leadership during what officials describe as a period of economic strength. Supporters have called the change symbolic, while critics have raised questions about tradition and precedent.
The updated currency will roll out gradually, coexisting with existing notes already in circulation.