Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Slavery Exhibit in Philadelphia

The administration has appealed the order to reinstate the exhibit on the nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home on Independence Mall.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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A federal judge in Philadelphia has set a Friday deadline for the Trump administration to restore an exhibit on the nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home on Independence Mall. The administration had removed the exhibits last month, prompting a lawsuit from the city and other supporters of the exhibit. The judge has ordered the materials to be reinstated while the lawsuit proceeds, comparing the administration's actions to the dystopian novel '1984'.

Why it matters

The historical site is an important part of Philadelphia's history and the nation's founding, with millions of visitors expected this year for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding. The removal of exhibits about enslaved people at presidential sites is part of a broader pattern by the Trump administration.

The details

Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe issued the deadline on Wednesday, even as the Justice Department appeals her order to reinstate the exhibit. The administration has argued that it alone can decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties, but Rufe said the federal government does not have the power 'to dissemble and disassemble historical truths.'

  • The exhibits were abruptly removed by Park Service workers last month.
  • Judge Rufe granted an injunction on Monday ordering the materials be restored while the lawsuit proceeds.
  • The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.

The players

Cynthia Rufe

A senior U.S. District Judge in Philadelphia who issued the deadline for the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibit.

Donald Trump

The President of the United States whose administration removed the exhibits on enslaved people at the historical site.

George Washington

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

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What they’re saying

“If the President's House is left dismembered throughout this dispute, so too is the history it recounts. Worse yet, the potential of having the exhibits replaced by an alternative script — a plausible assumption at this time — would be an even more permanent rejection of the site's historical integrity, and irreparable.”

— Cynthia Rufe, Senior U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The Trump administration has filed an appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which will now consider the case.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions over how to accurately portray the history of slavery and marginalized groups at important historical sites in the United States. The judge's strong language condemning the administration's actions underscores the significance of preserving historical integrity, even when it challenges dominant narratives.