The Harriet Tubman $20 Bill Isn't Coming in 2020 After All

The 108th anniversary doesn't have quite the same ring to it, but that's apparently how it's going to be. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Wednesday announced that the redesigned $20 bill—which former Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in 2016 decided would feature Harriet Tubman—will not be released as planned in 2020, the year marking the 100th anniversary of women getting the right to vote. A redesigned bill will come in 2028 instead. CNBC reports Mnuchin explained the driving force behind fresh design is to deal with counterfeiting problems, and there are more critical denominations that must be dealt with first.

"Based upon this ... the $10 bill and the $50 bill will come out with new features beforehand," he said in an appearance before the House Financial Services Committee. What's unclear is whether Tubman will grace the $20 bill when it does drop. Mnuchin said the redesign decision would likely come in 2026. The AP points out that were President Trump to win a second term and Mnuchin to remain Treasure secretary, both men would be out of those positions by January 2025. New York Times opinion columnist Farhad Manjoo quipped on Twitter, "Trump wants to get Americans on the moon by 2024 but design problems will delay the Harriet Tubman $20 until 2028. Ok." (Then-candidate Trump thought Tubman would be more suitable for another denomination.)