Trump directs US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing rising cost
President Donald Trump says he has directed the Treasury Department to stop minting new pennies, citing the rising cost of producing the one-cent coin.
"For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful!" Trump wrote in a post Sunday night on his Truth Social site. "I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies."
The move by Trump is the latest in what has been a rapid-fire effort by his new administration to enact sweeping change through executive order and proclamation on issues ranging from immigration, to gender and diversity, to the name of the Gulf of Mexico.
Trump had not discussed his desire to eliminate the penny during his campaign. But Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency raised the prospect in a post on X last month highlighting the penny’s cost.
(Tim Boyle/Getty Images)
By the numbers:
The U.S. Mint reported losing $85.3 million in the 2024 fiscal year that ended in September on the nearly 3.2 billion pennies it produced. Every penny cost nearly $0.037 — up from $0.031 the year before.
The mint also loses money on the nickel, with each of the $0.05 coins costing nearly $0.14 to make.
It is unclear whether Trump has the power to unilaterally eliminate the lowly one-cent coin. Currency specifications -- including the size and metal content of coins -- are dictated by Congress.
What they're saying:
But Robert K. Triest, an economics professor at Northeastern University, has argued that there might be wiggle room.
"The process of discontinuing the penny in the U.S. is a little unclear. It would likely require an act of Congress, but the Secretary of the Treasury might be able to simply stop the minting of new pennies," he said last month.
Members of Congress have repeatedly introduced legislation taking aim at the zinc coin with copper plating. Proposals over the years have attempted to temporarily suspend the penny’s production, eliminate it from circulation, or require that prices be rounded to the nearest five cents, according to the Congressional Research Service.
Proponents of eliminating the coin have cited cost savings, speedier checkouts at cash registers, and the fact that a number of countries have already eliminated their one-cent coins. Canada, for instance, stopped minting its penny in 2012.
Big picture view:
It wouldn't be the first time the U.S. eliminated its least valuable coin. The half-cent coin was discontinued by Congress in 1857.
Trump's new administration has been sharply focused on cutting costs, with Musk, who has been brought on to lead the task, targeting entire agencies and large swaths of the federal workforce as he tries to identify a goal of $2 trillion in savings.
"Let’s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it’s a penny at a time," Trump wrote in his post.
Trump sent the message as he was departing New Orleans after watching the first half of the Super Bowl.
The Source: Information in this story comes from President Donald J. Trump on Truth Social and The Associated Press' reporting.
MORE TOP STORIES FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE
Coldest air of the season arrives this week in Seattle area
3 killed, at least 6 hurt in crash involving bus near Wenatchee
Washington Senate passes changes to parental rights in education
Japan Airlines plane clips tail of Delta plane at Sea-Tac Airport
Man sentenced to 20 years for grooming, taking WA girl to Michigan home
To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily Fox Seattle Newsletter.
Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national coverage, plus 24/7 streaming coverage from across the nation.