Executive order phases out U.S. Treasury paper checks

This is good right? In Europe the eurocheque was already on the decline in 1982 (!), almost not being used anymore in 1998 and finally phased out in 2002.

For a country with so much tech, being the proverbial mother to so much of the tech we use today, it honestly suprises me how old fashioned it is.

We almost have a European webshop payment system, a eID for online authentication against governments, etc.

While this is reasonable, the means through which it is achieved is very concerning. Let us remember that this executive overreach is currently denying some legal residents their first amendment rights (for protesting against a hostile foreign nation), and is impairing funding for universities. While paper checks might lead to fraud, enforcing electronic payments deny citizens once again a form of liberty. Banks fold pretty easily at the whim of an autocrat, so you get "less control" over spending your money. Ultimately, there has to be balance between ownership and privacy (which is achieved through cash and checks for instance), and electronic payments (ultimate control, at the mercy of banks, a working connection, a valid bank account etc). The greater the requirements, the less free you are. Although given recent events, freedom itself comes with fine marks (no research on vaccines, no criticism of Is--ll). I care deeply about this community, so I recommend most HN users diversify your savings (do not just put everything into one account. Freezing bank assets can be done real easily (and remotely) and can destroy lives). Also, be very mindful of any criticism of the current admin (if you are a Federal employee) or of a foreign nation (I---l). AI is currently being used to find keywords and track down dissent. I know two recent graduates who were hired in the last two weeks, moved to D-si and are working on these (currently focused on federal employees and International/legal residents that are critical of current admin and I---l). Try using alternative words and a VPN at the VERY least

Don't trust the government, and THIS administration especially, with my account and routing numbers.

"You know I like a check better than this modern system of all of a sudden there is money in your account, and nobody knows... I like signing a check." - Donald Trump

This sounds reasonable with FedNow being live (which the Treasury was a founding member of when they went live)?

EO: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/mode...

Edit: They're centralizing control of payment flows.

(e) The Secretary of the Treasury shall support agencies’ transition to digital payment methods, including by providing access through the Department of the Treasury’s centralized payment systems to: (i) direct deposits; (ii) debit and credit card payments; (iii) digital wallets and real-time payment systems; and (iv) other modern electronic payment options.