Trump administration delays plans to include Harriet Tubman on new $20 bill | indy100 | indy100

Donald Trump's treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin confirmed on Wednesday that a redesign of the $20 bill featuring Harriet Tubman would not be released in 2020.

Tubman is widely regarded as an American hero, having escaped the world of slavery that she was born into in the 1820s, Tubman became an activist and helped lead more than 70 slaves to freedom via the underground railroad.

A redesign of the bill, which currently features former president and slave owner Andrew Jackson, was orchestrated under the Obama administration in April 2016 by the then treasury secretary Jacob Lew, who said at the time:

Tubman was not just a historical figure but a role model for leadership and participation in our democracy.

However, during a House Financial Services Committee hearing, Mnuchin said that the design would be happening as planned and that their primary concern was improving the note against 'counterfeiting issues' and then focus on the image later, which has reportedly been postponed until 2028.

Speaking to Democratic Rep Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, Mnuchin said:

We will meet the security feature redesign (goal) in 2020. The imagery feature will not be an issue that comes up until most likely 2026

Redesigns of the $10 and $50 bills are set to go ahead as scheduled.

Mnuchin did not add whether he supported the redesign but Trump has previously expressed his admiration of Andrew Jackson and believed that although Tubman was 'fantastic' that she would be better suited to the uncommon $2 note.

Reaction to the Trump administration's decision has been one of overwhelming outrage with many pointing out that Trump has spoken out against the removal of statues of Confederate generals such as Robert E Lee.

People other than white men built this county. And Sec Mnuchin agrees, yet he refuses to update our #currency.… https://t.co/uTNfZLwkW1
— Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley) 1558537260

Harriet Tubman belongs on the $20. Not moving forward is an insult not just to the African American community, but… https://t.co/JIxJjgifJp
— Valerie Jarrett (@Valerie Jarrett) 1558036091

They're out here trying to erase Harriet Tubman but fighting for Robert E Lee statues. We see you.
— Wajahat Ali (@Wajahat Ali) 1558550357

Everything you need to know about Trumpism in one story https://t.co/Z5tLHYbruy
— Dan Pfeiffer (@Dan Pfeiffer) 1558574672

The president who thinks Robert E. Lee is a hero has decided to prevent the public celebration of an actual hero: https://t.co/MAQwTOrXTA
— Binyamin Appelbaum (@Binyamin Appelbaum) 1558540076

Suddenly counterfeit money is an issue the moment a black woman is scheduled to appear on our money? https://t.co/0A2hMsq6We
— Scott Nevins (@Scott Nevins) 1558551373

— (@)

Steve Mnuchin blocking Harriet Tubman from being placed on the $20 bill is a move that panders only to racists and… https://t.co/sAhnlTUAhC
— Ricky Davila (@Ricky Davila) 1558580834

Make no mistake: the decision to cancel the unveiling of Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill is purely to pander to whit… https://t.co/uHhLLGGWXC
— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈) 1558579386

The decision to block Harriet Tubman from the redesign of the $20 bill is callous and yet another attack on Black w… https://t.co/LZ2QS0mAbZ
— Kristen Clarke (@Kristen Clarke) 1558569700

The white supremacists running this country are not about to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill to have y'all conte… https://t.co/RbhhqzLngR
— 🗣No One Is Safe Until We Are All Safe (@🗣No One Is Safe Until We Are All Safe) 1558555755

President Donald Trump, months before he was elected, called the decision to put Tubman on the currency "pure polit… https://t.co/M5yX8lzCvD
— Christopher Cadelago (@Christopher Cadelago) 1558538210

— (@)

Only a handful of American women have ever appeared on dollar bills. These include former first lady Martha Washington and the Native American hero Pocahontas.

The likes of Native American interpreter Sacagawea, suffragette Susan B. Anthony and author Helen Keller have been featured on coins.

HT Daily Mail

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