Treasury Scrapped Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Design
The U.S. Treasury Department officially ended plans to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill in July 2026.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Retirement Planning
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The U.S. Treasury Department announced in July 2026 that it has permanently abandoned the proposal to feature Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Andrew Jackson will remain the featured figure on the currency as the government prepares for a future redesign.
Why it matters
The reversal ends a decade-long initiative that originated in 2016 with the goal of increasing diversity on national currency. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed the decision following a formal inquiry regarding the status of the design change.
The $20 bill remains anchored to Andrew Jackson, whose likeness has appeared on federal notes since at least 1914. A new redesign for the denomination is currently projected to debut in 2030.
The players
Scott Bessent
He serves as the U.S. Treasury Secretary and confirmed the decision to halt the Tubman design.
Joyce Beatty
She is a U.S. Representative who submitted a formal inquiry to the Treasury regarding the bill redesign.
Andrew Jackson
He was the seventh President of the United States and remains the featured figure on the $20 bill.
Donald Trump
He is the current President of the United States who previously characterized the removal of Andrew Jackson as politically motivated.
Harriet Tubman
She was a renowned American abolitionist and activist whose inclusion on the $20 bill was proposed in 2016.
The details
The design process was officially shelved after a formal inquiry from Rep. Joyce Beatty. Treasury officials previously cited the necessity of integrating new anti-counterfeiting measures as a factor in earlier production delays, though the current administration has now closed the chapter on the Tubman proposal.
Timeline
The Thayer Amendment was passed in 1866.
The initiative to place Harriet Tubman on the bill began in 2016.
Rep. Joyce Beatty requested a status update in May 2025.
The Treasury confirmed the cancellation on July 10, 2026.
A new $20 bill design is expected to debut in 2030.
Market Dynamics
The decision to retain Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill adheres to established practices for U.S. currency design overseen by the Treasury. This move reflects a broader consistency in maintaining legacy imagery on bank notes while focusing on technical anti-counterfeiting upgrades.
The cancellation of the design change means that retail investors and the general public will continue to use the existing $20 bill style for the foreseeable future. This provides stability for automated cash handling and currency exchange systems that rely on current note specifications.
The takeaway
The government's decision reaffirms that the physical appearance of U.S. currency is subject to long-term bureaucratic review and shifting executive priorities. Consumers should expect the standard $20 bill to remain in circulation without changes until the scheduled 2030 redesign.
What happens next
The U.S. Treasury is scheduled to debut a new $20 bill design in 2030.
Further reading
Learn more about federal financial policies and currency standards on the Retirement Planning page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Numismatic News.
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