Court Mandates Restoration of Slavery Exhibit
A federal judge in Philadelphia has ordered the Trump administration to reinstate a historical exhibit at the President's House Site within Independence National Historical Park, which details the lives of enslaved people who served George Washington. U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued the ruling on Monday, February 16, 2026, a federal holiday honoring Washington's legacy.
The order mandates that the exhibit, titled 'Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation,' be restored to its condition as of January 21, 2026, the day before its removal. Judge Rufe's decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the City of Philadelphia against the federal government, specifically the National Park Service (NPS) and the Department of the Interior.
Orwellian Comparison in Judicial Ruling
In her 40-page opinion, Judge Rufe began with a quote from George Orwell's dystopian novel '1984,' drawing a direct comparison between the Trump administration's actions and the book's totalitarian regime. She wrote, '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.' Judge Rufe concluded, 'It does not.'
Exhibit's Removal and Historical Context
The exhibit, which had been on display for over 15 years, was dismantled by NPS employees on January 22, 2026. This removal included informational panels and deactivated video presentations that explored the paradox of slavery and freedom during the nation's founding. The action followed a March 2025 executive order from President Donald Trump, which directed federal agencies to review and remove materials deemed to 'inappropriately disparage Americans past or living' or promote 'corrosive ideology' at national historical sites.
The President's House Site marks the location where George Washington resided during his presidency when Philadelphia served as the nation's capital. The exhibit specifically highlighted the lives of nine enslaved individuals who lived with Washington at the site. These individuals included Oney Judge, Austin, Paris, Hercules, Richmond, Giles, Moll, Joe, and Christopher Sheels. The City of Philadelphia's lawsuit argued that the removal violated a 2006 agreement with the NPS regarding the site's interpretation.
Implications of the Ruling
The court's order requires the National Park Service to maintain the site and ensure the safety of the exhibits. It also prohibits the installation of any replacement materials without mutual agreement with the City of Philadelphia while litigation is ongoing. The Interior Department has indicated it plans to appeal the ruling.
0 Comments