Treasury pushing plans for $250 bill with Trump's portrait and signature, sources say

Trump administration officials have pushed the office tasked with printing the nation's money to move forward with designing a commemorative $250 bill with President Donald Trump's portrait and signature, should legislation to create the new currency pass, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

It would mark the first time a living person has appeared on U.S. currency in more than 150 years. As of now, federal law explicitly states only deceased people can appear on United States currency.

But some Republicans in Congress are working to change that.

Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, of South Carolina, has introduced a bill ordering the Treasury Department to print $250 Federal Reserve notes featuring a portrait of Trump.

The bill has 15 Republican cosponsors, a small sum for legislation that was introduced more than a year ago.

The bill has not passed -- stuck in the House Financial Services committee for more than a year -- but in a statement to ABC News, the Treasury Department acknowledged the Bureau of Engraving and Printing is "conducting appropriate planning and due diligence" should the legislation be signed into law.

It would still have to pass the Senate as well before it hits Trump's desk, requiring a bipartisan majority of 60 votes for passage. Democrats are expected to try to block the effort.

If the bill doesn’t become law, it expires at the end of the 119th Congress. After that, Wilson or another member can try to reintroduce it in the 120th session.

During a press briefing at the White House on Thursday, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the bill was a proactive measure.

"As Treasury secretary, I have two mandates for U.S. currency at present: that no living person can be on U.S. currency and the currency must say, 'in God we trust.' So right now, there is proposed legislation, the front of the House in front of the Senate, to change the first requirement so that a living person, Donald J. Trump, could be on the $250 bill," Bessent said. "So, it's all in the hands of the -- it's all up on Capitol Hill. So, at Treasury, we prepare things in advance. So, we have prepared in advance that if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law."

Asked for his thoughts on Trump's portrait being on the $250 bill at a time when many Americans are struggling financially, Bessent said there's nothing "untoward" about it.

"I don't think that there's anything untoward about having the president of the United States -- the person who is the president of the United States -- on the 250th anniversary bill," he said.

There's been no word from Republican leadership on whether they would support Wilson's bill, though none of its party leaders have signed on as cosponsors.

Two people familiar with the discussions told ABC News that U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach and Bessent have pushed for the president's signature to be added to the $250 bill.

The Treasury Department did not dispute the reporting.

"Based on the recommendation of U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach, Secretary Bessent will recognize the historic achievements of our great country and President Trump by adding his signature to the currency," a spokesperson stated.

The Treasury Department insisted no taxpayer dollars will be used to produce the new bill, noting Bureau of Engraving and Printing finances its operations entirely through product sales and billings rather than relying on annual congressional appropriations.

The State Department announced it would begin issuing special edition passports featuring Trump’s portrait and signature to commemorate the anniversary.

The Washington Post was the first to report the news.

ABC News' John Parkinson and Sarah Beth Hensley contributed to this report.