WASHINGTON – The White House said it is not planning to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the $20 bill, a stance that effectively puts on hold an Obama‑era effort to replace Andrew Jackson on the note, according to multiple reports.
A Treasury Department official told Spectrum News the administration is “not at present” planning to move forward with the redesign.
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The effort to place Tubman, the 19th‑century abolitionist and Underground Railroad conductor, on the $20 bill was announced by Treasury Secretary Jack Lew in 2016 as part of a broader redesign of U.S. currency.
The plan has been delayed and debated for years. In 2019, then‑Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a redesign that would feature Tubman would not be unveiled until 2026 and would likely not be issued until 2028, citing a reordered schedule to prioritize security upgrades on other denominations.
Advocates praised the original decision as a long‑overdue recognition of women and Black Americans on U.S. currency, while opponents argued the change was political or preferred alternatives for honoring Tubman. The latest announcement leaves the future of the redesign uncertain.
The Treasury Department designs and issues U.S. currency; decisions about imagery and timing involve multiple bureau and security considerations.
The administration did not immediately elaborate on whether it would consider other ways to honor Tubman or women on U.S. currency.