The Treasury Department moves forward with an attempt to put abolitionist Harriet Tubman on the new $ 20 bill after the effort was postponed indefinitely by the Trump administration in 2019.
“The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new $ 20 bills,” said White House press secretary Jen Psaki Monday. “It is important that our notes, our money … reflect the history and diversity of our country and the image of Harriet Tubman on the new $ 20 note will certainly reflect that.”
In a statement to CBS News, a Treasury Department spokesman echoed those comments, calling Tubman a “ role model for leadership and participation in our democracy. ”
The renewed effort comes after former Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced nearly two years ago that the redesign proposed under former President Obama would not take place under the Trump administration. Mnuchin said it was an “apolitical situation”, and the main reason was to avoid counterfeit money. At the time, Mnuchin suggested that changing the way the bill looked would not re-appear until 2026 and not circulate until 2028.
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who has championed efforts to give women money since the Obama administration’s proposal in 2015, said the delay at the time was “unacceptable.”
“I have spent years leading efforts in the Senate to get this done,” Shaheen tweeted Monday after the White House said efforts would move forward. “The Trump administrator dragged their feet without explanation. Ready to help the Biden administrator get through this so we can finally give Harriet Tubman the credit and recognition she deserves for so long.”
Senate leader Chuck Schumer also welcomed the move on Monday.
“I am happy that the Biden administration is reversing the dragging of the Trump administration,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. This is the kind of thing they did. No excuse, no reason, I just didn’t. ‘
In May 2016, former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew announced that Tubman would be appearing on the front of the $ 20, replacing President Andrew Jackson. Jackson would then appear on the back of the bill, along with an image of the White House. The announcement came after a 10-month period during which the Treasury Department asked for feedback on who should pay the notes.
There are several elements that could make the redesign take time, especially given the high circulation of $ 20 bills among consumers. Security features to protect against counterfeiting are a factor in the timing. A high-speed printing facility is needed to meet production standards. And there must be time to test the new functions.