[Conservative til I die]

I think Congress has to vote on design changes. The Treasury doesn't have that much autonomy.

[Timesink]

I think Congress has to vote on design changes. The Treasury doesn't have that much autonomy.

Congress can meddle and order a redesign, but generally it's up to Treasury:

Why were certain individuals chosen to be pictured on our paper currency?

The Secretary of the Treasury selects the designs shown on United States currency and coinage. Unless specified by an Act of Congress, the Secretary generally has the final approval. This is done with the advice of Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) officials for currency or the United States Mint officials for coins. In addition, the Commission on Fine Arts reviews all of the designs.

The law prohibits portraits of living persons from appearing on Government Securities. Therefore, the portraits on our currency notes and coins are of deceased persons whose places in history the American people know well. The designs shown on our coins have changed at different times for different denominations.

The basic face and back designs of all denominations of our paper currency in circulation today were selected in 1928. A committee appointed to study such matters made those choices. The only exception is the reverse design of the one-dollar bill. Unfortunately, however, our records do not suggest why certain Presidents and statesmen were chosen for specific denominations.