Trump administration officials pushed the agency that prints U.S. currency to create a $250 bill featuring President Donald Trump’s portrait, according to an exclusive report by The Washington Post. If approved, it would be the first time in more than 150 years that a living person appeared on American paper money.
The report said that starting last year, two Treasury Department political appointees, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and acting director of Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) Mike Brown, repeatedly encouraged staff at the BEP to develop prototype designs for the proposed note.
The effort raised concerns among employees because current federal law only allows deceased individuals to appear on U.S. currency. Several current and former staff members spoke to The Washington Post anonymously because they feared retaliation for discussing the matter.
As part of the proposal, Beach shared several mock-up designs with bureau employees in August and September 2025. One design reportedly showed Trump’s face in the center of the $250 bill between the signatures of the president and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The artist behind one of the designs, British painter Iain Alexander, told The Washington Post that he had discussed the project directly with Trump. Alexander said Trump suggested adding details such as the colors of the American flag and a logo marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
Alexander, who describes himself as a royal portrait artist known for paintings of Queen Elizabeth II and other public figures, said Trump often referred to him as his “favorite British artist.”
The United States has banned living people from appearing on currency since 1866. The rule was introduced after a Treasury official’s portrait appeared on a 5-cent note, leading lawmakers to prohibit the practice.
Last year, lawmakers introduced legislation that would allow Trump to appear on a commemorative $250 bill tied to America’s 250th anniversary celebrations. However, the proposal has not moved forward in Congress.
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In a statement, a Treasury Department spokesperson said the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is already preparing for the possibility of a new commemorative note if Congress approves the proposal.
“The printing office is conducting appropriate planning and due diligence” in response to the legislation, the spokesperson said.
“Should this legislative mandate be signed into law, the BEP is moving proactively to produce a $250 commemorative note which will appropriately recognize the 250th Anniversary of our great nation,” the statement added.
However, according to four current and former employees, Bureau Director Patricia “Patty” Solimene and other officials repeatedly warned Treasury appointees Brandon Beach and Mike Brown that there were major legal and procedural hurdles involved in creating the bill. They also explained that producing a new note could take far longer than administration officials expected.
Two current employees said the concerns were largely dismissed by the political appointees.
“She had told them we’re not authorized to do this. We can’t progress any further, and all the stakeholders have not even met to discuss the next steps,” one employee said. “Currency often takes six to eight years to produce a new bill, particularly one of such high value.”
Solimene was abruptly reassigned from her position on April 27, according to the report. In a farewell email sent to colleagues the next day, she wrote that she was leaving with a “heavy heart.”
In the email, obtained by the Post, Solimene said she had been moved to another position within the Treasury Department and stressed that the decision was “not my choice.”
She also defended her leadership during her time at the bureau.
“I never sacrificed the values or character of myself or the organization and always prioritized the U.S. Currency Program and the value each employee brings to the mission,” she wrote.
Solimene did not explain the reason for her reassignment in the email and did not respond to requests for comment. She was the bureau’s first female director and is also a 24-year Army veteran.
The Treasury Department denied claims that Beach had pressured staff to move ahead without approval from Congress.
“Beach has never asked staff to print the bill before congressional passage,” the Treasury statement stated.
The department declined to comment on Solimene’s reassignment, while the White House did not respond to requests for comment.
The report also said Solimene and bureau staff had agreed to another request from the administration involving $100 bills carrying Trump’s signature. According to employees, the bills are currently being printed at the bureau’s Washington facility and would be the first U.S. currency notes to feature the signature of a sitting president.
“Based on the recommendation of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, Secretary Bessent will recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Trump by adding his signature to the currency,” as per the Treasury statement.
Currency experts say there is currently no law preventing the government from printing bills with President Donald Trump’s signature. However, they say placing Trump’s image on a proposed $250 note would likely violate existing federal law.
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One law states that only a “deceased individual” can appear on American currency. Another law outlines the specific bill denominations the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is allowed to produce.
Larry R. Felix, a former director of the bureau, said Congress would first need to approve any effort to create a $250 bill.
“A $250 note is not statutorily authorized,” according to Felix.
“The secretary has to be given authority to do that,” he added, referring to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
British artist Iain Alexander, who designed one of the proposed mock-ups, said he was also told congressional approval would be necessary.
“I’ve been informed that it has to go through Congress,” he said.
Experts also pointed to another major hurdle. Designing and printing a new bill requires years of coordination involving the Federal Reserve, the Secret Service, and private companies responsible for security and circulation systems.
Felix noted that the redesign of the modern $100 bill took more than a decade because of the advanced anti-counterfeiting features built into the currency.
Mike Brown, one of the Treasury officials connected to the proposal, joined the department in October 2025 as a Trump appointee and was the former senior adviser to Beach. He previously served as chairman of the Kansas Republican Party.
Brandon Beach, who became U.S. treasurer in March 2025 and oversees the U.S. Mint, previously served as a Georgia state senator and publicly supported Trump’s claims challenging the 2020 election results. He did not respond to requests for comment.
“These guys think you can just print something overnight and it’s going to work in an ATM. It’s just crazy,” one employee said. “It takes years and years and years to produce these notes so they are reliable for the public.”
The push for a Trump-themed $250 bill comes as the administration prepares for the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, with celebrations expected to begin in July.
Trump has also proposed several large-scale anniversary projects, including a 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery and a “Garden of Heroes” in Washington featuring 250 statues.
Last month, the State Department announced plans to issue commemorative passports featuring Trump’s portrait and signature as part of the anniversary celebration. Unlike currency changes, that move did not require congressional approval.
In February 2025, Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina introduced legislation directing the Treasury Department “to print $250 Federal reserve notes featuring a portrait of Donald Trump.” The bill was sent to the House Financial Services Committee but has not advanced further.
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A spokesperson for Wilson’s office told The Washington Post that Beach had supported the proposal and that Wilson had spoken several times with the committee chairman about moving the bill forward.
“We can also confirm that both Treasury Secretary Bessent and President Trump have spoken with Rep. Wilson about their support for this on multiple occasions,” as per the statement.
Earlier this year, Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky shared a photo on X showing himself and Beach holding a mock-up of the proposed bill decorated with American flag colors and a “250” anniversary logo.
Alexander confirmed that the design in the image was his work and said it was created after receiving feedback from Trump.
The Washington Post contacted Alexander after noticing his signature on one of the mock-up designs shared with bureau employees last August.
Alexander said he also developed ideas for the back of the proposed note. One concept focused on “women’s liberation” and featured Betsy Ross, who is widely known for making flags during the American Revolution.
Trump’s reaction to the artwork was enthusiastic, according to the artist.
“He absolutely loved it,” Alexander said.
Alexander added that he is currently working on a larger art project connected to the America 250 celebration. However, he said communication with Trump has become less frequent following the outbreak of the war in Iran.
“You can appreciate all he’s got on his plate at the moment,” as per Alexander.