Administration Appeals Order Restoring George Washington Slavery Exhibit
Administration appeals a judge's Feb. 16 order to restore panels about nine people enslaved by George Washington at the President's House in Philadelphia.
Overview
The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday challenging a federal judge's injunction to restore a Philadelphia exhibit about people enslaved by George Washington.
U.S. Senior Judge Cynthia M. Rufe on Feb. 16 granted an injunction ordering the materials be restored to their Jan. 21, 2026 condition and barred Trump officials from creating new interpretations while the lawsuit proceeds.
The Justice Department said the administration alone can decide what stories are told at National Park Service properties, and the City of Philadelphia sued Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting NPS Director Jessica Bowron.
The President's House site includes 34 interpretive panels, 13 of which were created after activists' efforts, and the exhibit memorializes nine people George Washington enslaved, court filings and site materials show.
Court documents say the federal government has 30 days to file an appeal of Rufe's Feb. 16 order, and the administration filed a notice of appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as an instance of an administration attempting to erase difficult history, foregrounding the judge’s striking “1984” comparison and local outrage while still quoting the Interior Department’s rebuttal. Language choices, source selection, and lead placement prioritize claims of removal and whitewashing, creating a largely critical cumulative narrative.
Sources (12)
FAQ
The outdoor exhibit at the President's House Site in Philadelphia, titled 'Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation,' memorializes nine people enslaved by George Washington during his presidency and examines the paradox between slavery and freedom in the founding of the nation.
The National Park Service removed the exhibits on January 22, 2026, following President Trump's 2025 executive order directing the removal of history that might 'inappropriately disparage' famous Americans.
On February 16, 2026, U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe ordered the Trump administration to restore the exhibits to their condition as of January 21, 2026, and barred creating new interpretations while the lawsuit proceeds.
The City of Philadelphia sued Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and acting National Park Service Director Jessica Bowron over the removal of the exhibits.
The Trump administration filed a notice of appeal with the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, challenging Judge Rufe's order.
History
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