Thirty state financial officers have called on President Donald Trump to direct the Treasury Department to release approximately $39 billion in unclaimed war and savings bonds to their rightful owners or heirs. The appeal, made in a letter sent Thursday, coincides with the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations and urges the administration to resolve longstanding regulatory obstacles that have hindered the return of these funds.
The letter, signed by treasurers from 30 states including Alabama, Idaho, Missouri, and North Carolina, emphasizes that the bonds—many purchased during World War II and in subsequent years—represent more than financial investments. Officials described them as acts of patriotism and confidence in the country’s future, citing community bond drives, payroll savings plans, and savings stamps bought by children as examples.
According to the treasurers, many of the original bondholders passed away without informing heirs or have had their records lost or misplaced over time. They argue that these matured bonds rightfully belong to families rather than remaining in government custody. Since the program’s inception in 1935 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt, more than 6.8 million paper savings bonds valued at over $731 billion have been issued nationwide, though a sizable portion remains unredeemed.
The letter also referenced a prior effort by Trump during his first term, when he issued an executive order aimed at accelerating the release of matured bonds. However, the financial officers contend that subsequent legislation—specifically the Secure 2.0 Act enacted in 2022 under the Biden administration—has created complex regulatory barriers. This law requires state officials to prove ownership of abandoned bonds before receiving information from the Treasury Department, yet such proof is unattainable without access to the very government data they seek, creating a “catch-22.”
OJ Oleka, chief executive of the State Financial Officers Foundation, underscored the importance of returning the bonds as a matter of honoring the legacy of Americans who contributed financially to wartime efforts and national growth. He described the bonds as loans made in “patriotic good faith” and emphasized that the funds do not belong to the government.
The treasurers propose that a new executive order rescinding the Biden-era restrictions could clarify this property rights issue without necessitating new legislation from Congress. While the letter did not specify the exact mechanism for returning the funds, officials noted that recent improvements—including modernization of Treasury records, enhanced owner-search tools, outreach efforts, and congressional funding to digitize debt records—have paved the way toward the eventual disbursement of unclaimed bonds.
This request arrives at a symbolic moment, as the United States commemorates 250 years of independence, prompting calls to recognize one of the country’s most enduring forms of civic engagement through the Savings Bond program.