President Donald Trump could appear on a proposed new U.S. $250 bill, the first time a living person’s image would be added to U.S. currency in more than 150 years.Two Treasury Department officials, Treasurer Brandon Beach and senior adviser Mike Brown, told the Bureau of Engraving and Printing to design the new bill with Trump’s portrait, The Washington Post reported May 28. Both officials were appointed by Trump.A federal law dating from 1866 states: “Only the portrait of a deceased individual may appear on United States currency and securities.”But a congressional proposal for a $250 bill with Trump’s image was introduced by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., in February 2025. The $250 bill would commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States, the proposal said.The proposal, H.R. 1761, is still pending in the House Committee on Financial Services.What would the $250 bill look like?Can't see our graphics? Click here to reload the page.Whether the Trump $250 bill becomes official currency likely depends on passing Republican-backed legislation that has failed to advance in Congress, USA TODAY reported.Printing bureau staff told Beach and Brown there were legal and procedural barriers in the production of a new bill, the Post reported. The bureau’s director was later reassigned.The bureau’s website notes that testing for new banknotes “can take years to successfully complete.”Tests include security features, materials, printing methods and scale of production. Notes also are checked to ensure they can work in machines that handle U.S. cash.Why can't living people appear on U.S. currency?The 1866 law was passed after Spencer Clark, a Treasury official, put his own image on a 5-cent note. The congressional order for the note was supposed to be in honor of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition.The law has been amended, most recently in 1982. The basic prohibition on living people on U.S. paper currency remains.Later federal laws establish denominations of U.S. currency. Bills worth $250 are not yet authorized.What other high-denomination U.S. currency bills exist?The Treasury Department has issued other high-denomination banknotes over the years but discontinued them in July 1969. Lack of use was cited as the reason.The bills are no longer printed but are still considered legal tender. They are mostly collectors' items now.The $100,000 bill with Woodrow Wilson was used only for Federal Reserve Bank transactions. It was not in public circulation.Who were the last people added to U.S. currency?Benjamin Franklin was placed on the $100 bill in 1914. Thomas Jefferson was added to the $2 United States note in 1869 and again in 1976 when the banknote was reintroduced as a Federal Reserve note. Sacagawea, a Native American interpreter and guide for Lewis and Clark, was added to the U.S. dollar coin from 2000 to 2008.Will Trump appear on other currency?Trump’s signature will be added to all future U.S. paper currency starting with the $100 bill, the first time in history that a sitting president’s signature will appear on American banknotes, the Treasury Department announced March 26.The first $100 bills bearing signatures of Trump and of Treasury Secretary ⁠Scott Bessent will be printed in June, Reuters reported.At least two commemorative coins bearing depictions of Trump have been approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, an advisory board whose members were chosen by the president.CONTRIBUTING Joey Garrison and Karissa WaddickSOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; U.S. Treasury Department; U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing