Colorado Governor Backs Trump’s Move to Halt Penny Production
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, has praised former President Donald Trump’s decision to halt the production of pennies, calling it a “great move” that will save taxpayers money and benefit the environment.
Why It Matters
Since retaking office, Trump has issued a series of executive orders aimed at cutting government waste, including tasking the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)—now led by billionaire Elon Musk—with reducing unnecessary spending.
The U.S. Mint reported in 2024 that each penny costs nearly four cents to produce, making it one of the most inefficient coins in circulation. The nickel, which costs 14 cents to produce, has also remained above face value for 19 consecutive years.
What Polis Said
Trump announced the decision on Truth Social, stating:
“For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents. This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let’s rip the waste out of our great nation’s budget, even if it’s a penny at a time.”
Polis responded on X, formerly Twitter, writing:
“As well as saving taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, there are major environmental benefits to eliminating the penny. This is a great move.”
Pennies are primarily made of copper and zinc, and reducing production could lower air pollution caused by mining. In 2023, zinc mining in the U.S. was valued at $2.4 billion.
Reactions and Next Steps
Political analyst Craig Agranoff told Newsweek that eliminating the penny is a long-overdue decision, arguing that it slows transactions and has little economic value. He added:
“It’s a logical step toward efficiency, and the real question is why it hasn’t happened sooner. Guess it will be a nickel for your thoughts now.”
Meanwhile, Donald Trump Jr. and Charlie Kirk praised the move as an example of Trump’s commitment to reducing government waste, with Kirk highlighting that it could save taxpayers $179 million annually.
Representative Ben Cline, a Virginia Republican, echoed those sentiments, calling the penny “a waste of taxpayer money we can’t afford.”
While Trump’s directive is now in place, Congress could move to make the order permanent. However, previous attempts to eliminate the penny have failed. Whether lawmakers follow through remains to be seen.
