Lynn Malerba was appointed Treasurer of the United States by President Joe Biden in 2022 at age 69. Nearly 250 years after the nation’s first treasurer took office, Malerba’s swearing-in made her the first Native American to oversee the production and distribution of U.S. currency. It also marked the first time in history that dollar bills featured the signatures of two women: Malerba’s and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen’s. Her appointment also meant that a tribal leader and Native woman’s signature was seen on the nation’s currency for the first time.

In her role as Treasurer, Malerba also oversaw the newly established Office of Tribal and Native Affairs that was dedicated to communication with tribal nations and the hub for tribal policy. Malerba stepped down from her position in November 2024 after overseeing significant expansions in tribal economic development and investment programs during her two-year tenure.

In addition to her federal position, Malerba is the lifetime Chief of the Mohegan Tribe. Appointed by the council of elders in 2010, she is the first female chief in the tribe's modern history.

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