The Treasury Department is preparing a $250 note bearing President Donald Trump’s portrait for the nation’s 250th anniversary, but the bill can only move forward only if Congress changes federal law barring living people from U.S. currency.

“It’s all up on Capitol Hill. At Treasury, we prepare things in advance. So we have prepared, in advance, that if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law,” explained Bessent.

Trump’s portrait would be placed on $250 paper currency for the first time if lawmakers succeed in changing a key federal law that bars living people from appearing on the currency. Democratic lawmakers and leaders, meanwhile, are decrying the proposal as they escalate their opposition to Trump and the GOP. 

“In response to active legislation sponsored by Representative Joe Wilson, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP) is conducting appropriate planning and due diligence. Should this legislative mandate be signed into law, the BEP is moving proactively to produce a $250 commemorative note which will appropriately recognize the 250th Anniversary of our great nation,” a Treasury spokesperson told Fox News Digital when asked about the bills. 

TREASURY TO PLACE TRUMP’S SIGNATURE ON PAPER CURRENCY TO MARK US 250TH ANNIVERSARY

Staunch Trump supporter, Republican South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson, introduced the bill in February 2025.

Wilson introduced the bill not only to coincide with America’s birthday in July, but also as a rebuke of the Biden administration and its economic policies. The bill was referred to the House Financial Services Committee when it was introduced and has remained with the committee. 

The Federal Reserve currently issues only seven denominations: $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. Kentucky Republican Rep. Andy Barr posted an image to X in January of the reported mock-up of the bill, which showed red, white and blue colors behind Trump’s image. 

“I have two mandates for U.S. currency at present. That no living person can be on U.S. currency. And the currency must say, ‘In God we trust,’” said Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent while hosting the White House press briefing Thursday.

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Democrats quickly took to social media to criticize the proposal, arguing it centered on Trump’s personal legacy rather than the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.

“By the end of Trump’s term, it’ll be just enough to buy one gallon of gas and a carton of eggs,” said former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in an X post.

“Hard No on a Trump $250 bill. Get over yourself. The upcoming July 4 anniversary is not about a wannabe King. It’s about celebrating the American journey,” wrote Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on X.

“While Americans are being crushed by rising prices, Trump is brainstorming new ways to stoke his ego. Maybe if he were more focused on lowering costs for working families, they wouldn’t need a new $250 bill to afford necessities,” said Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner.

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“House Republicans’ priorities: ❌ End Trump’s war in Iran ✅ Create a ‘Trump Peace Prize’ ❌ Lower costs for families ✅ Make a new $250 bill with Trump’s face on it ❌ Reign in Trump’s masked ICE agents ✅ Carve Trump’s face on Mt. Rushmore,” wrote the Democratic National Committee on X.

Treasury previously announced that Trump’s signature would appear on future U.S. paper currency alongside Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s signature in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary.

Eating healthy food at a fast-food restaurant may be challenging, but it isn’t impossible.

A list of the most nutritious fast-food meals available to eat right now appeared recently on the website The Takeout. The items include those lower in calories “or, at the very least, [those that] contain more vitamins and minerals” than other items on the menu.

That’s not all that matters for a healthy diet, however, according to Dr. Kristin Struble, a functional medicine pediatrician in Arizona.

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“‘Nutritious’ is a big overstatement,” Struble said of the list.

Taco Bell’s Veggie Mexican Pizza with guacamole was No. 1 on the list.

Even so, Struble told Fox News Digital it’s not a great choice, in her opinion, because the flour tortilla is processed and made with preservatives that have a tendency to trigger gut inflammation.

“And because it’s [vegetarian], you’re not really getting tons of protein, and protein is satiating, so you’re going to be hungry two hours later,” Struble said.

Instead, Struble agreed with Dr. Lauren Powell, who practices in Georgia, that the Chick-fil-A Grilled Nuggets with the Kale Crunch Salad and Fruit Cup are a much better choice.

“Chick-fil-A grilled nuggets are a great alternative,” Powell told Fox News Digital. “The kale salad can be OK, but the salad dressing you have to worry about.”

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The kale salad dressing contains soybean oil, maple syrup and preservatives, according to Chick-fil-A’s website.

Struble also noted that a lot of people don’t tolerate kale.

“That superfood is not so super for everyone,” she said.

Three of the top 10 burgers that made the list were from McDonald’s, Five Guys and In-N-Out, all without buns. Assuming the meat isn’t overly processed, these could be sensible choices, the doctors said.

“The cheeseburgers are a better choice because you’re getting protein and fat and a little bit of lettuce,” Struble said.

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The Wendy’s baked potato isn’t a terrible option either, Powell said, because “then at least you know what you’re eating.”

Powell advised people to look for salads when dining out and to be mindful of the dressings’ ingredients. She keeps olive oil in her office to dress salads and adds sea salt and black pepper, she said. 

“It’s not the most exciting thing, but it gets the job done,” Powell said.

Chipotle is one of the best fast-food options when it comes to prioritizing macronutrients, namely protein and fat, Struble said.

“You can choose the high-protein options, and there is fiber with the beans — black beans in particular,” Struble said.

“Avoid the highly processed carbs with the tortillas and the chips and the white rice.”

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The salsa and vegetables at Chipotle also offer vitamins and micronutrients, Struble said. The guacamole is a good source of fiber and healthy fats, she added.

For summer travelers seeking healthy food on the road, Powell recommended stopping at grocery stores instead of fast-food restaurants. There’s also the added benefit of getting some exercise you wouldn’t get by going through a drive-thru, she said.

Struble encouraged people to avoid the “chemically laden, addictive, yummy products” common at fast-food chains and gas stations, “even if it says gluten-free.” 

Many so-called healthy food products, she said, are misleading.

“Even the protein shakes are not great, because they’re packed with sugar and highly processed,” Struble said.

Pack food ahead of time when you can, the doctors advised. 

When you do eat fast food, remind yourself it’s a one-time thing done out of necessity and not part of a routine, Powell said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Chick-fil-A, Chipotle and Taco Bell for comment.

This summer, millions of Americans will head to the airport, ready for long-awaited vacations, family visits and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. They will pack their bags, shuffle through airport security lines and make their way through crowded terminals. On board, they’ll buckle their seat belts, hear the safety briefing and settle in for the flight ahead. Throughout it all, they will trust that every layer of the aviation system is working as it should.

That trust is well-placed. The U.S. aviation system remains the safest in the world because it is built upon layers of protection: highly skilled pilots, rigorous training, strong standards and coordination that helps crews identify risks before they become emergencies. Today, those layers are under growing pressure. More traffic, more complexity and aging infrastructure. Recently identified gaps in safety technology are also narrowing the margin for error.

Most passengers never see the full spectrum of the U.S. air safety system at work. As pilots, we see it every day. We have a responsibility to prioritize the safety of every flight and the authority to delay, cancel, abort or divert when necessary. We are trained to gather the full picture before takeoff — weather, fuel, alternate airports — and to keep evaluating risk until the aircraft is safely parked at the gate. It is a duty we take seriously. That’s why we cannot stand by when the aviation system is sending clear warning signs.

Over the past 15 months, the signs of strain have become impossible to ignore. A fatal midair collision near Washington National Airport. A deadly runway collision at LaGuardia. A growing list of near misses. An aging air traffic control system. Persistent controller staffing shortages. Each is concerning on its own. Together, they point to a system that’s being stretched thin.

‘WARNING SIGNS WERE ALL THERE’ BEFORE DEADLY DC MID-AIR CRASH, FORMER AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER SAYS

Reducing this risk requires sustained investment in the technology, infrastructure and people who keep the system moving safely. That means modernizing air traffic control systems, replacing outdated equipment and ensuring there are enough fully trained controllers. Congress made an important down payment on air traffic control modernization last year, but the work cannot stop there. The system needs sustained, long-term funding to keep pace with increasingly crowded airspace.

Strengthening the system also means equipping pilots with the latest technology on the flight deck. The House-passed ALERT Act takes important steps in response to the 2025 crash near Washington National Airport, but it does not go far enough to close the safety gaps it exposed. Chief among them is the need for a simple, commonsense standard: All aircraft operating in the busiest and most complex airspace in the country should be required to use the same real-time tracking and alerting technology to prevent collisions.

Today, commercial aircraft flying near major U.S. airports are generally required to use ADS-B Out, which broadcasts real-time information about a plane’s location, altitude, speed and direction. But ADS-B In — the technology that receives that information and displays nearby aircraft for pilots on flight deck screens — is still not required. It’s a problem that is only compounded when military and other government aircraft operating in busy civilian airspace aren’t required to transmit the same data as commercial airliners.

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That’s why any final aviation safety bill must require a full, integrated ADS-B In safety suite. Pilots need more than the ALERT Act’s narrow update to the existing collision avoidance system, especially one that would provide limited capability at low altitudes and wouldn’t work on runways and taxiways.

A full ADS-B In suite, as required in the Senate-passed ROTOR Act, would give pilots a clearer picture of nearby aircraft in the air and on the airport surface, along with early visual and audible alerts when the system determines that another aircraft may pose a collision risk.

This added time can help pilots spot the aircraft sooner and decide if evasive action is needed. Coupled with fewer exemptions for military and government aircraft and a firmer deadline for mandating use, the ROTOR Act would help prevent a tragedy like the fatal midair collision in Washington from ever happening again.

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When proven technology is available today and the consequences are too great to ignore, Congress should not settle for a partial fix to this recently identified gap.

Every pilot is trained to pay attention to warning lights, but a warning does not mean disaster is inevitable. It means something needs attention before the situation escalates. That is where our aviation system is today. Flying remains safe, but recent accidents, near misses and technology gaps have made clear that the system passengers and shippers rely on is under strain.

As summer travel surges, Congress has an opportunity to strengthen the layers of safety that protect millions of passengers. It should start by listening to the people who see the pressure building inside that system every day: pilots.

Lawmakers shouldn’t choose between ROTOR and ALERT — they should pass the best of both.