Senate Passes Bill to End Wasteful Penny Production, Fix Cash Transactions
The U.S. Senate showed a rare display of bipartisanship this week that does not happen often.
The Senate unanimously approved the Common Cents Act, a practical measure that formally ends production of the money-losing penny and gives the Treasury Department authority to develop a cheaper nickel.
The move, many argue, will potentially save taxpayers millions while simplifying everyday cash purchases for American consumers and small businesses.
The legislation, which already cleared the House earlier, advanced by unanimous consent.
It targets three long-standing problems with U.S. coinage that have quietly drained public resources and created headaches at checkout counters nationwide.
First, the bill officially terminates the minting of circulating pennies.
The U.S. Mint already produced its final one-cent coins for general circulation last year, though special collectible versions marking America’s 250th anniversary entered circulation earlier this year.
Under the new measure, the Federal Reserve must work to minimize any remaining supply disruptions.
Existing pennies stay fully legal tender—Americans still hold an estimated 300 billion of them, or more than 800 per person—so no one loses the value of coins already in their pockets, jars, or couches.
The second major provision addresses the real-world confusion that has grown since pennies stopped flowing to retailers.
Businesses would gain the clear legal option to round cash transactions to the nearest nickel.
A purchase totaling $19.82 would round down to $19.80, while $19.83 would round up to $19.85.
This voluntary approach applies only to cash deals, leaving credit cards, mobile payments, and checks unaffected.
Advocates note that some states and localities currently ban the practice, creating a patchwork of rules that frustrates both store owners and customers.
The Common Cents Act would preempt those restrictions and restore common sense at the register.
Perhaps most important for fiscal conservatives, the legislation tackles the chronically unprofitable nickel.
Producing a single five-cent coin cost taxpayers 13.31 cents in fiscal year 2025—down only slightly from 13.78 cents the year before.
That marks two full decades of the government losing money on every nickel it strikes. The coin is roughly 75 percent copper, and soaring metal prices have driven the losses, just as they once did for the penny.
The bill empowers the Treasury to test and evaluate a more affordable alternative recipe. Both the House and Senate versions call for a “composition of zinc and nickel” for the coin, “subject to testing and evaluation” that shows it cuts cost and “has a minimal adverse impact on machines designed to accept coins.”
Zinc traded nearly $7,000 per metric ton cheaper than copper last year, according to Mint data.
Only the penny and the dollar coin currently use zinc in significant amounts.
Officials stress that any new formula must still work smoothly in vending machines, parking meters, and coin counters that millions of businesses rely on.
A separate proposal to eliminate the nickel remains stuck in a House committee, so the five-cent piece will continue circulating for now.
The Common Cents Act wisely focuses on making the existing coin cheaper rather than rushing to abolish it.
If the president signs the measure into law, Americans can expect fewer pointless government losses on coin production and smoother cash payments in stores.
Retailers will no longer face conflicting local rules about rounding, and the Treasury will finally have tools to redesign the nickel without waiting for another two decades of red ink.
The unanimous Senate vote signals that even in a polarized Congress, lawmakers can still agree on basic fiscal responsibility.
Cutting waste on coins that cost more to make than they are worth is the kind of straightforward reform that benefits every taxpayer, small-business owner, and cash-paying customer.
The Common Cents Act delivers exactly that—practical solutions without the usual Washington drama.
💥 PRESS DEBUT DISASTER!
Katie Zacharia’s Awkward First White House Press Briefing Draws National Attention
Katie Zacharia’s first appearance behind the White House podium quickly became a major talking point after several uncomfortable moments overshadowed her debut as President Donald Trump’s new press secretary.
The October 13 briefing lasted approximately 14 minutes, with Zacharia answering questions from only three news outlets before ending the session. Her short appearance immediately attracted widespread media attention.
Zacharia had recently been selected to replace former press secretary Karoline Leavitt, stepping into a highly visible role responsible for communicating the administration’s positions to journalists and the American public.
From the opening minutes, observers noticed her reliance on prepared notes. She delivered a lengthy account of Trump’s accomplishments, frequently looking down at the script instead of maintaining eye contact with reporters.
Her delivery also attracted criticism, with commentators describing her voice as hesitant and her presentation as unusually stiff. Others questioned whether the administration had given its newest spokesperson enough preparation time.
Much of the briefing focused on praising Trump’s economic agenda, energy policies, rally attendance, and political achievements. The extended list of talking points left relatively little time for substantive exchanges with journalists.
One particularly awkward moment occurred when Zacharia discussed the challenge of balancing her demanding position with family life. She explained that spending evenings away from her four children was unacceptable to her.
She then accidentally referred to her husband as “my president” before immediately correcting herself with “my husband.” Recognizing the slip, she added a brief joke, creating the briefing’s most widely discussed moment.
The verbal mix-up spread rapidly through news coverage and social media, becoming a defining image of her first appearance. Critics treated it as evidence of nervousness, while others viewed it as an ordinary human mistake.
Her response to a question about U.S. intelligence sharing with Ukraine also drew attention. When asked whether Washington had stopped sharing intelligence with Kyiv, Zacharia replied that she would have to get back to the reporter.
The exchange was brief, but it highlighted the difficulty of responding to sensitive foreign policy questions without immediately having the necessary information. Reporters continued seeking answers as the briefing moved forward.
Another significant announcement concerned Kimberly Guilfoyle, the U.S. ambassador to Greece. Zacharia told reporters that the administration had asked Guilfoyle to resign, unexpectedly introducing a personnel development into the short briefing.
The announcement generated additional headlines and demonstrated that, despite the awkward delivery, Zacharia’s first appearance included consequential political news. Her handling of the announcement, however, also attracted scrutiny from commentators.
Questions about her readiness soon emerged among political observers and some administration allies. The Wall Street Journal described the debut as rocky, reporting that her nervous presentation prompted questions about the decision to put her before cameras so quickly.
The brief question-and-answer session was another unusual feature. After taking questions from Breitbart News, Fox News, and the Daily Mail, Zacharia announced that reporters could ask Trump questions directly as he prepared to leave.
Her decision to end the briefing after such limited questioning became another focus of criticism. Regular White House briefings often involve extended exchanges, making the short session particularly noticeable to journalists and political commentators.
Despite the criticism, Trump publicly defended his new press secretary. Asked about her performance, the president said he thought she had done very well, offering a clear show of support following the difficult debut.
The White House also presented the briefing positively, describing Zacharia’s performance as commanding. That assessment contrasted with critical media coverage, illustrating how differently supporters and detractors interpreted the same appearance.
Zacharia’s debut has therefore become an early test of her ability to manage a demanding communications role. Future briefings will offer a clearer indication of whether she can develop greater confidence and handle sustained questioning.
For now, the accidental “my president” remark remains the most memorable moment from her first appearance. Whether the incident becomes a brief viral embarrassment or a lasting political talking point will depend on what follows.
