Judge Orders Trump Admin to Mitigate Damage to Slavery Exhibit Panels in Philadelphia

The federal government must securely store and preserve the memorial panels removed from the President's House site.

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:07pm

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A U.S. District Judge has ordered the Trump administration to mitigate any further deterioration or damage to the 34 panels that were removed from the President's House exhibit in Philadelphia. The panels tell the stories of the nine enslaved Africans who were held by President George Washington at the site. The judge inspected the condition of the stored panels and noted some damage, though the extent is still to be determined. The city of Philadelphia is suing the federal government over the removal of the exhibit.

Why it matters

The President's House exhibit and memorial was an important public acknowledgment of the history of slavery at the nation's founding. The removal of the exhibit panels by the National Park Service has sparked outrage and a legal battle over preserving this historical record.

The details

Judge Cynthia Rufe ordered the federal government to securely store all removed panels and mitigate any further damage after inspecting their condition. Some panels exhibited marks or damage, though the full extent is still to be determined. The city of Philadelphia is seeking a preliminary injunction to block the Trump administration from making any further changes to the site as the lawsuit proceeds.

  • On January 22, the National Park Service removed the 34 panels from the President's House exhibit.
  • On February 3, Judge Rufe inspected the condition of the stored panels.

The players

Judge Cynthia Rufe

The U.S. District Judge overseeing Philadelphia's federal lawsuit against the Trump administration over the removal of the slavery exhibit.

Avenging the Ancestors Coalition

An advocacy group that launched the 2002 campaign to include a slavery memorial at the President's House site in Philadelphia.

Michael Coard

An attorney and founder of the Avenging the Ancestors Coalition.

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What they’re saying

“There were scratches and marks on several of the 34 items we saw, there was no cushioning. They were up against the wall. They were on the cement floor. Had they slipped, the glass items would have fallen to the ground.”

— Michael Coard, Attorney and founder of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition (ksro.com)

What’s next

The judge will determine the extent of any damage to the panels and whether they can be restored to their original condition as the lawsuit over the exhibit's removal continues.

The takeaway

The President's House exhibit was an important public acknowledgment of slavery's role in the nation's founding, and its removal by the Trump administration has sparked a legal battle over preserving this historical record and memorial.