Judge Orders Restoration of Slavery Exhibit at Washington's Home

Administration appeals order to reinstate exhibit at Independence Mall site

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A federal judge in Philadelphia has ordered the Trump administration to restore an exhibit on the nine enslaved people who lived at George Washington's former home on Independence Mall, setting a Friday deadline. The administration has appealed the order, arguing it has the authority to decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties. The judge compared the administration's actions to the dystopian novel '1984' and said the government does not have the power to 'dissemble and disassemble historical truths'.

Why it matters

The dispute over the slavery exhibit at the President's House site highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately portray the history of slavery and its role in the founding of the United States. The administration's efforts to remove or alter exhibits related to marginalized groups at other historical sites has also drawn criticism from advocates for more inclusive and truthful historical narratives.

The details

In her 40-page opinion, Judge Cynthia Rufe granted an injunction ordering the administration to restore the exhibits that were abruptly removed last month, while the lawsuit filed by the city and other supporters proceeds. The administration has argued it has the sole authority to decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties, but Rufe rejected that claim, saying the government does not have the power to 'dissemble and disassemble historical truths'.

  • The judge set a Friday deadline for the administration to restore the exhibits.
  • The 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 order to restore the slavery exhibit at George Washington's former home.

Trump administration

The current U.S. presidential administration, which has argued it has the authority to decide what historical narratives are presented at National Park Service properties and has appealed the judge's order.

George Washington

The first U.S. president, who enslaved nine people at his former home on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.

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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 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will consider the administration's appeal of the judge's order to restore the slavery exhibit.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over how to accurately portray the history of slavery and its role in the founding of the United States, with the administration seeking to limit or alter such narratives at historical sites under its control.