Hello readers and welcome back to On Politics. Zach Schermele here, USA TODAY's congressional reporter. It's Thursday, and much of DC likely spent the morning googling an 1866 law. Here's why.
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Congress vs. Trump banknote
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A Washington Post story this morning reported that the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing has considered mock-ups of $250 bills featuring President Trump's face in honor of America's 250th birthday. The notion set DC gossip ablaze, with Democrats aghast at what they quickly blasted as an illegal vanity project.
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But ultimately, the road to implementing the idea would have to go through Congress.
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A Treasury Department spokesperson confirmed today to my colleague Joey Garrison that the agency is "conducting appropriate planning and due diligence" to prepare for a bill sponsored by Republican Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina. That legislation would authorize the $250 banknote. Wilson, in a statement on X, said, "I am looking forward to final passage of this bill."
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A cherry blossom tree frames a banner of President Trump hanging on the U.S. Department of Labor building, in Washington, D.C., on March 28, 2026.
Annabelle Gordon, REUTERS
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In reality, that legislation has been languishing in committee (where bills often go to die) for more than a year. With Democrats hammering Republicans on rising gas prices amid the Iran war, and the midterms approaching, it's hard to envision a scenario in which GOP leaders prioritize passing a measure to authorize the use of Trump's face on an unusual denomination of currency. They've got way more on their plate (highway funding, housing reform, a farm bill, the list goes on).
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Then there's the Thayer Amendment. As the Bureau of Engraving and Printing notes, the 1866 law "prohibits the portrait or likeness of any living person on currency notes, bonds, or securities."
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Talarico raises over $3M in 24 hours after Paxton beats Cornyn
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His campaign noted that the haul marked the largest fundraising day for Talarico, my USA TODAY Network colleague Mateo Rosiles reported.
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Rubio catches up to Vance in new 2028 Republican presidential poll
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio has surged and Vice President JD Vance has lost sizable ground in a new poll of 2028 Republican primary contenders, a potential sign of a competitive primary fight to replace President Donald Trump as the next GOP nominee.
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Zachary Schermele is a congressional reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach him by email at zschermele@usatoday.com. Follow him on X at @ZachSchermele and Bluesky at @zachschermele.bsky.social.
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Looking for a clear, monthly roadmap to the 2026 midterms? Our new election guide Reddit thread tracks key primaries and offers all the resources you may need as a voter (registration, deadlines, ID rules, absentee, mail voting and more). Catch the May update with local USA TODAY Network reporting and bookmark the guide for future editions.
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President Donald Trump is as dominant as ever over the Republican Party. His grasp on the U.S. Senate is a different story.
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A rare albino buffalo in Bangladesh - nicknamed "Donald Trump" for its distinctive blond tuft - has been spared from Eid al-Adha sacrifice.
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