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Federal judge orders slavery exhibits restored at site

Kagi News | 2026-02-16 19:30 UTC | source

🏛️ A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore slavery-related exhibits that were removed from the President’s House Site in Philadelphia, granting a preliminary injunction sought by the City of Philadelphia 345.

The order directs the National Park Service to reinstall the removed content while the lawsuit moves forward 54.

Philadelphia, PA, United States
City officials sued the Interior Department after National Park Service workers took down the exhibits at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia last month.
City officials sued the Interior Department after National Park Service workers took down the exhibits at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia last month. — nytimes.com

Sources

  1. Judge quotes Orwell’s 1984 as she orders Trump to restore slavery exhibits in Philadelphia [reddit.com] (2026-02-16)
  2. Judge Orders Trump Admin to Restore Slavery Exhibits It Took Down [reddit.com] (2026-02-16)
  3. Judge Orders Trump Administration to Restore Displays About Slavery at Washington’s House [nytimes.com] (2026-02-16)
  4. Trump Admin Ordered to Restore Slavery Exhibits Stripped From Historic Site in Philly [rollingstone.com] (2026-02-16)
  5. Judge invokes George Orwell's '1984' in ordering restoration of Philadelphia slavery exhibit [thehill.com] (2026-02-16)

Highlights

  1. Orwell reference: U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe cited George Orwell’s novel “1984” in her written order 45.
  2. Likely unlawful removal: The judge agreed with the city that the Trump administration likely removed the displays unlawfully 5.
  3. What’s blocked: The injunction bars the administration from changing or damaging the outdoor exhibition while the case continues 54.
  4. What the exhibits address: The displays focus on enslaved people who lived at the nation’s one-time executive mansion in Philadelphia 5.

Perspectives

U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe: Granting the preliminary injunction, she wrote that the government does not have the power to erase or alter historical truths at the site.

City of Philadelphia: The city sued the Interior Department after the slavery-related exhibits were removed, asking the court to order the displays restored while the case is litigated.