U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe ordered the Trump administration to restore slavery-related exhibits that had been removed earlier this year from the President’s House site in Philadelphia, a property operated by the National Park Service.

The dispute stems from a March 2025 executive order signed by Donald Trump titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” which prompted changes to certain displays at national monuments and historic sites. The order directed agencies to review content that officials said presented a distorted or politically driven interpretation of American history.

Philadelphia city officials filed suit after slavery-related information was removed from the President’s House exhibit, where George Washington and John Adams once resided. The city argued that the removal violated a prior agreement requiring “communication and consultation” before changes could be made to the site.

Judge Rufe agreed with the city’s position, issuing an order requiring the exhibits to be restored. The ruling represents a judicial rebuke of the administration’s effort to reshape historical presentations at federally managed properties.

Administration officials criticized the lawsuit as politically motivated, arguing that local leaders should focus on public safety and economic concerns rather than pursuing litigation over exhibit language. They have framed the executive order as an effort to ensure historical sites present balanced and accurate accounts of the nation’s founding era.

The decision adds to ongoing legal battles over the scope of executive authority in managing federal lands and historical interpretation, with the administration weighing potential next steps.