In late January 2026, the National Park Service removed explanatory panels from Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia that detailed the lives of nine people enslaved by George and Martha Washington during the 1790s when the house served as the presidential residence. The exhibit, created 20 years ago through a partnership between Philadelphia and federal officials, included biographical information about the enslaved individuals, including Oney Judge and Hercules Posey, both of whom escaped.
The removal followed a March 2025 Trump executive order titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History" that directed the Interior Department to ensure national sites do not display elements that "inappropriately disparage Americans past or living." Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker sued to restore the exhibit, arguing the federal government lacked authority to remove it due to prior agreements.
On February 17, 2026 (Presidents Day), U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, appointed by President George W. Bush, granted a preliminary injunction ordering all materials restored to their original condition while the lawsuit proceeds. She prohibited installation of replacement exhibits with different historical interpretations. Rufe's 40-page opinion referenced George Orwell's "1984" and stated the federal government does not have power "to dissemble and disassemble historical truths." During a January hearing, she called Justice Department arguments that officials could choose which history to display "dangerous" and "horrifying." The ruling can be appealed.
