Judge orders restoration of slavery exhibits at presidential home site

The city of Philadelphia sued the National Park Service over the removal of the exhibits.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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A federal judge has ruled that the National Park Service must restore slavery exhibits that were removed from the President's House exhibit site in Philadelphia, where Presidents George Washington and John Adams once lived. The city of Philadelphia sued the NPS over the removal of the exhibits, citing a previous agreement that required communication and consultation before changes could be made to the site.

Why it matters

The President's House exhibit site is the only federal historic site that commemorates the history of slavery in America, making the removal of these exhibits a significant loss for preserving and educating the public about this part of U.S. history.

The details

In March 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" that led to the removal of some exhibits at national monuments. The city of Philadelphia objected to the removal of slavery information from exhibits at the President's House site, which is operated by the National Park Service. The city cited a previous agreement with the NPS that required "communication and consultation" before changes could be made to the site.

  • In March 2025, former President Donald Trump issued an executive order that led to the removal of some exhibits at national monuments.
  • In January 2026, the slavery exhibits were removed from the President's House exhibit site in Philadelphia.
  • On February 16, 2026, a federal judge ruled that the exhibits must be restored to their original state before the day of removal.

The players

National Park Service

The federal agency that operates the President's House exhibit site in Philadelphia.

City of Philadelphia

The city that sued the National Park Service over the removal of the slavery exhibits from the President's House site.

Judge Cynthia M. Rufe

The senior federal judge who ruled that the slavery exhibits must be restored to the President's House site.

Former President Donald Trump

The former president who issued an executive order in 2025 that led to the removal of some exhibits at national monuments, including the slavery exhibits at the President's House site.

Rep. Brendan Boyle

The Pennsylvania congressman who welcomed the federal court's ruling to restore the slavery exhibits.

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What they’re saying

“I strongly opposed the Trump administration's decision to remove these exhibits, and I welcome the federal court's ruling that they must be restored. ... I will continue fighting to ensure these exhibits are fully restored and accessible to the public.”

— Rep. Brendan Boyle, U.S. Representative (CBS News)

“The decision to do this appears to be made because the President's House Site memorialized the nine enslaved individuals that were held there against their will by President Washington and his wife, Martha, and this is the only federal historic site that commemorates the history of slavery in America.”

— Paul Steinke, Executive Director, Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia (CBS News)

What’s next

The National Park Service must now restore the slavery exhibits to the President's House site in Philadelphia as ordered by the federal judge.

The takeaway

This ruling highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately and sensitively portray the history of slavery in America, especially at historic sites associated with the nation's founding. The preservation of these exhibits is crucial for educating the public and acknowledging the full history of the country.