When will the President’s House slavery exhibit be restored?
Rufe did not set a deadline for the restoration. But Michael Coard, an attorney and founder of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, which joined the city of Philadelphia in suing the federal government over the removal, said that’s likely because she expects the Trump administration to appeal the decision.
“This judge, a Republican, by the way, looked at the law, looked at the facts, and did the right thing,” Coard said. “It’s a great day in Philadelphia, it’s a great day in Pennsylvania, it’s a great day in America.”
Coard had been hosting the annual Presidents Day event at the site when he learned of the decision. He said the news made him “ecstatic.”
“We always point out that George Washington and 11 other presidents enslaved Black people,” Coard said. “This happened on Presidents Day. To me, it’s like the judicial equivalent of the Revolutionary War where the Founding Fathers took up arms against a dictatorial government in Britain. Well, this judge took up a pen against a dictatorial government here in 2026.”
Coard said the 40-page decision is “factually and legally impressive.”
The city of Philadelphia sued to restore the exhibit, citing contractual agreements made through congressional authority. Rufe wrote that the National Park Service cannot make changes to exhibits without agreement from the city of Philadelphia. Congress “limited the authority of the Department of the Interior and NPS to unilaterally alter or control Independence National Historic Park. The agencies do not have the authority to flout that Congressional directive.”
The National Park Service did not immediately respond to WHYY News’ request for comment.