Trump Administration Appeals Order to Restore George Washington Slavery Exhibit in Philadelphia

Federal judge compares administration's actions to '1984' in ruling to reinstate exhibit on enslaved people at President's House Site

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Trump Administration has filed an appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals after a federal judge ordered the restoration of an exhibit on the nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home in Philadelphia's Independence Mall. The judge had granted an injunction, comparing the administration's actions to the dystopian novel '1984' and its 'Ministry of Truth' that revised historical records.

Why it matters

The President's House Site in Philadelphia is an important historical location that draws millions of visitors annually, especially in 2026 for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. The exhibit on Washington's enslaved workers was intended to provide a more complete and honest account of the nation's history, but the Trump administration has sought to remove such content about enslaved, LGBTQ+, and Native American people from National Park Service properties.

The details

In her ruling, U.S. Senior Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, a George W. Bush appointee, stated that the federal government does not have the power 'to dissemble and disassemble historical truths' at sites it controls. The Justice Department has now filed an appeal, insisting that the administration alone can decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties.

  • The exhibit materials were abruptly removed by Park Service workers last month, prompting the city and other supporters to file a lawsuit.
  • On Monday, Judge Rufe granted an injunction ordering the materials be restored while the lawsuit proceeds and barring the Trump administration from creating new interpretations of the site's history.
  • The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

The players

Cynthia M. Rufe

A U.S. Senior Judge and an appointee of Republican President George W. Bush, who granted the injunction ordering the restoration of the exhibit materials.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States whose administration is appealing the judge's order to restore the exhibit on enslaved people at the President's House Site in Philadelphia.

George Washington

The first U.S. President who enslaved nine people at his former home in Philadelphia, which is the subject of the disputed exhibit.

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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, U.S. Senior Judge

What’s next

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will now consider the Trump administration's appeal of the judge's order to restore the exhibit on enslaved people at the President's House Site in Philadelphia.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately and sensitively portray the history of slavery and marginalized groups in the United States, especially at prominent historical sites. The Trump administration's efforts to remove such content from National Park Service properties have faced strong pushback from local communities and the courts.