Andrew Jackson remains firmly on the front of the United States twenty-dollar bill. Despite years of public debate, administrative delays, and a high-profile proposal to replace him with abolitionist Harriet Tubman, the seventh U.S. president still graces the note. The U.S. Treasury Department confirmed that plans to feature Tubman on the $20 bill are no longer moving forward, leaving Jackson in place as currency redesign schedules stretch toward a projected 2030 debut.
The story behind why Jackson occupies this space is full of historical irony. Jackson vehemently opposed central banking systems and paper money backed by a federal authority, yet his face has spent generations on one of the country's most heavily circulated Federal Reserve notes. Understanding how he got there requires a look at early American financial politics, the history of U.S. currency design, and the complex realities of modern banknote security upgrades managed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.
Why Andrew Jackson is on the Twenty-Dollar Bill
Andrew Jackson was not part of the original group of Founding Fathers chosen for American paper currencyWho is on the $20 bill?
Currency
Who is on the 20 dollar bill right now?
Andrew Jackson appears on the front of the standard United States twenty-dollar bill, while the White House is featured on the back. This pairing has remained fixed for decades, even though plans have circulated for years to replace Jackson with Harriet Tubman.
The twenty-dollar bill is one of the most frequently dispensed denominations at ATMs across the country. Because of this high circulation, any proposed redesign draws intense public interest and political debate. The current portrait of Jackson has been a fixture of American paper currency since 1928, when he replaced Grover Cleveland. Yet, the story behind why Jackson holds this spot involves a mix of historical tradition, changing presidential preferences, and delayed bureaucratic redesign timelines.
The history of Andrew Jackson on United States currency
Andrew Jackson wasn't always on the twenty-dollar bill. When the Federal Reserve notes were first standardized in size in 1928, Grover Cleveland was actually featured on the $20 denomination. Treasury officials rotated portraits during this era, moving Cleveland to the $1,000 bill and placing Jackson on the twenty.
Jackson's inclusion on paper money carries a deep irony. During his presidency, the seventh U.S. president waged a relentless and ultimately successful war against the Second Bank of the United States. He viewed central banking as a corrupt institution that favored eastern elites over common citizens. Putting his face on a note issued by the Federal Reserve system remains one of the more peculiar historical footnotes in American financial design.
Beyond his war on the central bank, Jackson's legacy is deeply controversial. His administration enforced the Indian Removal Act, leading to the Trail of Tears, and he was a slaveholder who profited from the plantation system. These elements of his record fueled the modern push to remove him from circulation.
The Harriet Tubman redesign timeline and current status
The movement to feature Harriet Tubman on the twenty-dollar bill gained official momentum during the Obama administration. In 2016, Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced plans to replace Jackson with Tubman, an iconic abolitionist and former Union scout who led enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad.
Under the original proposal, the new design was scheduled to debut around 2020 to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. However, the project faced numerous delays. Bureaucratic hurdles, security redesign priorities, and shifting administrative timelines pushed the rollout back significantly.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing prioritizes anti-counterfeiting measures before aesthetic changes. Currency security updates follow a strict sequence based on vulnerability to forgery. Because the $10 and $50 bills required security overhauls first, the twenty-dollar bill redesign was pushed down the line. Official updates from the Treasury Department indicate that the new notes won't enter circulation until late in the decade, with estimates pointing toward the 2030s.
How US currency redesigns actually work
Redesigning federal reserve notes is a complex logistical operation involving multiple government agencies. The process isn't just about swapping a portrait; it requires a complete engineering overhaul of physical money.
The Secret Service, which was originally created to combat counterfeiting, works alongside the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Federal Reserve Board. Together, they monitor technological threats. When counterfeiters adopt new printing techniques or digital scanning methods, the Treasury responds by embedding advanced security features into the paper and ink.
Key steps in a paper currency update
- Threat assessment: Security agencies analyze emerging counterfeiting methods to determine which denominations are most at risk.
- Feature development: Scientists and engineers design new tactile elements, color-shifting inks, and embedded security threads.
- Aesthetic integration: Artists and engravers blend the security features with historical portraits, monuments, and intricate background patterns.
- Public testing: Vending machine manufacturers, transit authorities, and financial institutions receive sample notes early to calibrate acceptance hardware.
- Mass production: High-security printing facilities in Washington, D.C. and Fort Worth, Texas produce billions of notes before the official launch date.
Common misconceptions about the 20 dollar bill
Rumors and misinformation frequently spread regarding American paper money. Social media posts often claim that certain bills are no longer legal tender or that an immediate redesign has wiped out older currency.
The U.S. government never demonetizes its paper currency. Even if a brand-new design featuring Tubman eventually enters circulation, your older Jackson notes will retain their full face value. Banks and retail establishments must accept all generations of Federal Reserve notes issued since 1914.
Another common myth is that the president has unilateral authority to change who appears on money. While the Treasury Secretary oversees the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, currency design involves congressional oversight, aesthetic committees, and extensive security reviews. Changes cannot happen overnight through a simple executive order.
You can learn more about official currency guidelines by visiting the Bureau of Engraving and Printing website. For broader historical context on federal monetary policy, check the Federal Reserve History portal.
Frequently asked questions
Is Andrew Jackson still on the $20 bill today?
Yes. Andrew Jackson remains on the front of the twenty-dollar bill, and the White House remains on the back. No redesign featuring Harriet Tubman has entered circulation yet.
When will Harriet Tubman be on the $20 bill?
Treasury timelines suggest that a redesigned note featuring Tubman won't be ready for public circulation until the 2030s. Technical security upgrades and anti-counterfeiting measures take priority in the production schedule.
Will old twenty-dollar bills become worthless when a new design launches?
No. All U.S. currency issued since 1914 remains legal tender at its full face value, regardless of how many redesigns occur. Businesses and banks are required to accept older bills.
Why does Andrew Jackson hate central banks if he is on one?
Jackson fought aggressively to destroy the Second Bank of the United States during his presidency. Ironically, modern Federal Reserve notes feature his portrait because Treasury officials selected historical figures for currency denominations long after his death.
