A federal judge ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to restore the slavery exhibits that the National Park Service removed from the President’s House last month.
U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe issued a ruling Monday requiring the federal government to “restore the President’s House Site to its physical status as of January 21, 2026,” the day before the exhibits were removed.
The order does not give the government a deadline for the restoration of the site, but requires the National Park Service to maintain the site and ensure the safety of the exhibits, which memorialize the enslaved people who lived in George Washington’s Philadelphia home during his presidency. These exhibits were abruptly removed in January following months of scrutiny.
A Matter of Historical Truth
Judge Rufe, a George W. Bush appointee, likened the federal government’s argument that it can unilaterally control exhibits in national parks to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984, a novel depicting a dystopian totalitarian regime.
“As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed… 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,” Rufe wrote. “It does not.”
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s administration filed a federal lawsuit against Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron, and their respective agencies, the day the exhibits were dismantled. The complaint argued dismantling the exhibits was an “arbitrary and capricious” act that violated a 2006 cooperative agreement between the city and the federal government.
The federal government has the option to appeal the judge’s order. The Interior Department and National Park Service did not immediately comment on the ruling, which fell on Presidents’ Day, a federal holiday. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania also declined to comment.
During a hearing last month, Rufe called the federal government’s argument that a president could unilaterally change the exhibits displayed in national parks “horrifying” and “dangerous.” She ordered the federal government to ensure the panels’ safe keeping after an inspection and a visit to the President’s House earlier this month.
Monday’s ruling followed an updated injunction request from the city asking for the full restoration of the site, and a brief from the federal government arguing the National Park Service has discretion over the exhibits and that the city’s lawsuit should be dismissed on procedural grounds.
The federal government’s brief also argued there could be no irreparable harm from the removal of the exhibits because they are documented online and replacement panels would cost $20,000. However, the judge found the city is likely to prove its case that the removal was unlawful, and the panels should be restored while the litigation continues.
“If the President’s House is left dismembered throughout this dispute, so too is the history it recounts, and the City’s relationship to that history,” Rufe wrote.
The judge also found that the cooperative agreement between Philadelphia and the National Parks Service remains in “full force,” even though the contract is technically expired.
The injunction does not resolve the underlying lawsuit and is in effect for the duration of the litigation. Rufe indicated she wouldn’t allow the case to extend into the summer, recognizing the 250th anniversary celebration being planned for Independence Mall.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the judge order the Trump administration to do?
The judge ordered the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibits at the President’s House to the condition they were in as of January 21, 2026.
Why did the city of Philadelphia sue the federal government?
The city of Philadelphia sued because it argued the removal of the exhibits was an “arbitrary and capricious” act that violated a 2006 cooperative agreement.
What was Judge Rufe’s reasoning for her decision?
Judge Rufe found the city is likely to prove its case that the removal was unlawful and compared the federal government’s argument to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984, stating the government does not have the power to alter historical truths.
As this legal battle unfolds, will the Trump administration appeal the ruling, or will the exhibits be restored, ensuring that the full story of the President’s House—including the experiences of those enslaved within its walls—is accessible to all who visit?
