The US Dollar is Getting a New Look After 165 Years

The US Treasury Department said on Thursday that American paper currency will begin carrying President Donald Trump’s signature later this summer.

The change is part of plans linked to the 250th anniversary of US independence and will also end a long-standing practice, as the signature of the US treasurer will be removed from notes for the first time in over a century.

The first redesigned $100 bills, featuring signatures of President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, are scheduled for printing in June, with other denominations to be updated in phases afterward.

Officials said the new currency will take some time to circulate through the banking system, while existing notes bearing signatures of former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and former Treasurer Lynn Malerba will remain in production during the transition. Malerba will be the final US treasurer to appear on paper currency, bringing to a close a tradition that dates back to 1861, when federal paper money was first issued.

The move comes amid broader efforts by the administration to associate the president’s name with national symbols, including commemorative items and government-related initiatives. A federal arts panel has already approved a gold coin design featuring Trump.

Bessent said the timing aligns with the country’s 250-year milestone and reflects current economic conditions. Meanwhile, attempts to introduce a circulating $1 coin bearing Trump’s image have faced legal barriers, as US law does not allow living individuals to be depicted on coins.