Why $250 bills bearing Trump's face are a tough legal sell

Republican lawmakers want a $250 bill featuring President Trump for the nation's 250th anniversary celebration, but the proposal faces legal and legislative hurdles.

Why it matters: Federal law bars living people from appearing on U.S. currency, creating a significant obstacle to the proposal without congressional action.

State of play: The Washington Post reported Thursday that, despite the stalled legislation, U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and his senior adviser requested prototypes of the $250 bill.

• The Treasury Department already announced that the president's signature will appear on paper currency to honor the nation's 250th, a first for a sitting president.

Catch up quick: A Treasury spokeswoman confirmed to Axios that in response to "active legislation," the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) was "moving proactively" to produce the "commemorative note" and "conducting appropriate planning and due diligence."

• Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.) introduced a bill last year that would require Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to print $250 notes featuring Trump's portrait, but the proposal has stalled in the House Committee on Financial Services.
• A Republican committee aide told Axios the panel is talking with its members and senators about the idea.

Behind the scenes: A spokesman for Wilson said the congressman had discussed moving the bill forward with the committee's chair multiple times and that both Bessent and Trump spoke with Wilson "about their support for this on multiple occasions."

• Beach backed Wilson's proposal and offered to draft mock-ups of the proposed note, per a letter provided to Axios by the congressman's office.
• Beach acknowledged in the correspondence he was aware the law banned living people from appearing on U.S. currency but added that he believes it is "appropriate for us to honor the sitting President for the 250-year celebration."
• However, Beach "never asked staff to print the $250 note before congressional action occurs," the Treasury spokeswoman told Axios.

Friction point: U.S. Code reads, "Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities."

• After a then-living Treasury official, Spencer Clark, appeared on a note and caused public uproar, Congress prohibited the portrait or likeness of any living person on currency notes, bonds or securities.
• A separate piece of U.S. Code specifies the denominations of notes to be $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and so on. It does not include a $250 bill.
• But Bessent said in a Thursday briefing that he doesn't believe "there's anything untoward about having the president of the United States ... on the 250th anniversary bill."

Yes, but: Wilson's legislation has shown little movement, and the BEP says banknote development can take years of testing.

The bottom line: We're likely a long way away from Americans carrying Trump dollars in their wallets.

• But the possibility of legal challenges and the risk of running afoul of historic norms hasn't stopped the administration in the past.

Go deeper: Here's how U.S. residents feel about Trump's signature on American cash