Judge orders Trump administration to restore President's House slavery exhibits

The Department of Interior and National Park Service must restore the exhibits by Friday, the judge ruled.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore slavery exhibits at the President's House in Philadelphia by Friday. The judge issued a blistering 40-page opinion and a hard deadline after the National Park Service removed the exhibits last month, which the city sued over. The administration has appealed the injunction but did not request a stay, so the judge said she must enforce her own order.

Why it matters

The President's House in Philadelphia is a historic site that tells the story of the nine enslaved people who lived there during George Washington's presidency. The removal of the exhibits sparked outrage and a lawsuit from the city, highlighting ongoing debates over how to interpret and present America's complex history.

The details

In her order, Judge Cynthia M. Rufe said the federal agencies must restore the President's House to its condition before the exhibits were removed by 5 p.m. on Friday. This follows the agencies' 'failure to comply' with the judge's previous injunction to take action 'forthwith.' While the administration has appealed the injunction, it did not request a stay, so the judge said she must enforce her own order.

  • The National Park Service removed the exhibits last month.
  • The city of Philadelphia sued the federal government in response.
  • On Monday, the judge issued a 40-page opinion ordering the exhibits restored 'immediately.'
  • On Wednesday, the judge set a hard deadline of 5 p.m. Friday for the restoration.

The players

Judge Cynthia M. Rufe

A federal judge who ordered the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibits at the President's House in Philadelphia.

Department of Interior

The federal agency that oversees the National Park Service and was ordered to restore the exhibits.

National Park Service

The federal agency that removed the slavery exhibits from the President's House, sparking the lawsuit from the city of Philadelphia.

City of Philadelphia

The city that sued the federal government over the removal of the slavery exhibits from the President's House.

Donald Trump

The former president whose administration is being ordered to restore the exhibits at the President's House.

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What they’re saying

“Absent a stay granted by this Court or the Third Circuit, this Court must enforce its own order.”

— Judge Cynthia M. Rufe, Federal Judge (mcall.com)

“The lawsuit brought by Philadelphia was 'premature' because the removal of the exhibits from the President's House and other national parks is not final.”

— Taylor Rogers, White House Spokesperson (mcall.com)

What’s next

The judge has set a hard deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday for the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibits at the President's House. If the administration fails to meet this deadline, the judge may take further enforcement action.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debates over how to interpret and present America's complex history, especially when it comes to the legacy of slavery. The removal and subsequent restoration of the exhibits at the President's House reflects the political tensions surrounding these issues, and the judge's firm stance underscores the importance of preserving historical narratives that acknowledge the country's difficult past.