A federal judge, who condemned the Trump administration’s efforts to censor American history, has reversed the controversial decision to remove information on slavery from a historical Philadelphia site, the latest example of a battle over attempts to whitewash the history of slavery and anti-Black oppression in the U.S.
Judge, citing ‘1984,’ orders return of historical displays on slavery
U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe ruled Monday in favor of the City of Philadelphia, granting its petition for a preliminary injunction against Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and other Trump administration officials responsible for the removal of historical displays at Independence National Historical Park. Rufe’s written ruling begins with a quote from George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984, in which a totalitarian government regularly rewrites history to serve its political agenda. Rufe 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. It does not.”
Rufe agreed with the city’s arguments against the National Park Service, ruling that “NPS’s removal of the panels and further changes to the President’s House without any consultation with, notification of, or cooperation with the City are arbitrary and capricious.” Rufe required the federal government to “reinstall all panels, displays, and video exhibits that were previously in place” and ordered that no subsequent “additions, removals, destruction, or further changes of any kind to the President’s House site” be made without “a mutual written agreement” between federal authorities and the City of Philadelphia.
Trump administration seeks to censor American history
As Blavity reported, on Jan. 24, Park Service employees suddenly began removing the outdoor slavery exhibit at Philadelphia’s President’s House Site, located within Independence National Historical Park. The removed signs and plaques discussed slavery in the United States, including persons enslaved to President George Washington, whose presidential residence was located at the site, as Philadelphia served as the U.S. capital at the time. The Department of the Interior cited President Donald Trump’s directives, claiming that the removal was in line with Trump’s orders “to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values.”
Trump’s March executive order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” singled out Independence National Historical Park as an example of “corrosive ideology” from “the prior administration.” The Trump administration responded to Rufe’s order, telling People, “President Trump continues to fulfill his promise to restore truth and common sense to the United States and its institutions. President Trump is ensuring that we are honoring the fullness of the American story instead of distorting it in the name of left-wing ideology.”
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro celebrated Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker’s lawsuit and Rufe’s decision to restore the slavery exhibit. “Here in Pennsylvania, we learn from our history — even when it’s painful. We don’t erase it.” Shapiro posted on X, formerly Twitter. “Donald Trump may want to whitewash our shared history — but we will not let him win.”
NEWS: After @PhillyMayor sued and my Administration backed them up in court, a judge just ordered the Trump Administration to restore the exhibit on slavery they unlawfully ripped down from the President’s House Site at Independence National Historical Park. ⁰⁰Here in… https://t.co/TvVdrktJ87
— Governor Josh Shapiro (@GovernorShapiro) February 17, 2026
With the Trump administration’s orders leading to censorship of federal parks, museums and other sites across the country and even abroad, the removal of the Philadelphia slavery exhibit may not be the last effort to whitewash American history. In this case, at least, Trump’s efforts have been rebuffed by the courts. As Black History Month continues, a portion of Philadelphia’s Black history is set to be displayed yet again.
The post Judge Compares Trump Admin To Dystopian Novel ‘1984’ In Order To Restore Slavery Exhibit To George Washington Home appeared first on Blavity.
