Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Slavery Exhibits at Historic Philly Site

The President's House Site in Philadelphia must be returned to its previous state, a federal judge ruled.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A federal judge in Pennsylvania has ordered the Trump administration to reinstall several exhibits about slavery that were removed from the President's House Site in Philadelphia last month. The judge issued a preliminary injunction, requiring the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service to restore the site to its previous state before the exhibits were taken down.

Why it matters

The President's House Site in Philadelphia has expressly examined the 'paradox between slavery and freedom in the new nation' since its commemoration in 2010. The site serves as a memorial to the nine people George Washington enslaved there during the founding of the U.S. The removal of these exhibits was seen as an attempt to downplay the history of slavery at the site.

The details

Last July, 13 items across six exhibits at the President's House were flagged for review under a directive from Trump's Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum, ordering the removal of any displays at national parks that 'inappropriately disparage' the United States. In January, everything displayed at the site was removed. The City of Philadelphia sued Burgum and acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron after the exhibits were removed.

  • On January 22, 2026, the exhibits about slavery were removed from the President's House Site in Philadelphia.
  • On February 16, 2026, a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to restore the exhibits.

The players

Doug Burgum

Trump's Secretary of the Interior who issued a directive ordering the review and potential removal of any displays at national parks that 'inappropriately disparage' the United States.

Jessica Bowron

The acting National Park Service Director who was sued by the City of Philadelphia after the exhibits were removed from the President's House Site.

Cynthia M. Rufe

The federal judge who issued the preliminary injunction ordering the Trump administration to restore the exhibits at the President's House Site.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's 1984 now existed, with its motto 'Ignorance is Strength,' this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not.”

— Cynthia M. Rufe, Federal Judge (Rolling Stone)

What’s next

The judge did not set a firm deadline for the restoration of the exhibits, but the case will continue as the City of Philadelphia seeks a permanent injunction to keep the exhibits in place.

The takeaway

This ruling is a victory for preserving the historical record and acknowledging the full history of slavery at the founding of the United States. It sets an important precedent against attempts to whitewash or downplay difficult aspects of American history.