Staff Reports
The United States has long been plagued by an inconvenient little nuisance: the penny. Grumbling about the existence of this lowly coin has become an American pastime, second only to barbeque on the Fourth of July. Thankfully, President Donald Trump has taken decisive action by commanding the U.S. Treasury Department to halt penny production, sparking conversations about fiscal responsibility and the absurdity of minting something that costs taxpayers more than it’s worth.
Until Trump’s announcement, the penny endured as the last remnant of an outdated currency system, sticking around like an unwanted houseguest. The cost of producing each penny has ballooned to nearly four cents, meaning every lazy penny minted is an invitation to wasteful spending. With the U.S. Mint gracing the country with a staggering 3.2 billion pennies last fiscal year, the loss to taxpayers amounted to an eye-watering $85.3 million. It is truly baffling that the federal government would prioritize the production of a coin that doesn’t even hold its own weight.
Amidst the chaos of government spending, Trump’s directive is a refreshing slap of common sense. It’s time to clean out the couches of the national budget, even if it means doing so at a penny’s pace. Critics may argue about the practical implications of ceasing penny production, but why bother? The average American isn’t crying over the absence of pennies. In fact, they may find their wallets a bit cleaner and simpler without the excess coin clutter.
Interestingly, this move has caused quite a stir in Congress, with legislators now contemplating how to handle cash transactions that aren’t divisible by the next lowest denomination—the nickel. In a world where the nickel also costs more (13.78 cents to produce), one has to wonder if Congress would be better off looking for a magic solution rather than endlessly producing coins that financially strain the taxpayer. Perhaps the answer lies not in reforming coins but in acknowledging that the whole currency system might be due for an overhaul.
A Penny for Your Thoughts? Trump Orders US Treasury to Suspend Production of the Centhttps://t.co/7pUUnNUt4A
— RedState (@RedState) February 10, 2025
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper D.C. discussion without pushback. One activist group, amusingly called Americans for Common Cents, has vocally opposed the halt on penny production, claiming that cutting pennies will lead to greater losses from nickel production. Their logic wobbles like a nickel on the edge of a table, considering it doesn’t take a financial wizard to see that when each nickel is costing the Mint more than its face value, the entire premise collapses. Rather than cling to the past like a toddler to a blankie, it might make more sense to let outdated currency sink into irrelevancy.
In the end, Trump’s move serves as a perfect metaphor for fiscal stewardship—rip out the waste and stop letting government inefficiencies stack up like unused pennies in a jar. As the coin clinks quietly into the ether, the rest of the country can finally breathe a sigh of relief. Whether it’s a dime or a dollar, every little bit counts, and it’s high time the government remembers that, even if some folks can’t seem to let go of their precious pennies.
