Trump Administration Workers Seen Ripping Slavery Exhibit Off Walls at Historic Pennsylvania Site

Philadelphia has filed a federal lawsuit after National Park Service workers were seen taking down exhibits about slavery at a major historic site in the city.

On Thursday, Jan. 22, Philadelphia sued the U.S. Department of the Interior and Secretary Doug Burgum, along with the National Park Service (NPS) and its acting director, Jessica Bowron, according to court documents.

In video shared by The Philadelphia Inquirer, NPS workers appear to dismantle panels at The President’s House at Independence National Historical Park — a site that has memorialized the nine documented enslaved people George Washington held during the nation’s early years.

The exhibits removed reportedly included panels titled “Life Under Slavery” and “The Dirty Business of Slavery.” A park employee told the newspaper, “I’m just following my orders,” adding that a supervisor had directed staff to remove the displays earlier that day.

In its filing, the city asked a judge for a preliminary injunction. The complaint states that, “Without notice to the City of Philadelphia, the National Park Service has removed artwork and informational displays at the President’s House site referencing slavery.”

The lawsuit also argues the removal was “presumably pursuant to the mandate in the Executive Order,” referencing Executive Order No. 14253, NBC News reported.

The order, titled “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” was signed by Donald Trump in March 2025. It specifically mentions Independence National Historical Park and accuses the Biden administration of pushing what it calls a “corrosive ideology.”

The order states: “At Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — where our Nation declared that all men are created equal — the prior administration sponsored training by an organization that advocates dismantling ‘Western foundations’ and ‘interrogating institutional racism’ and pressured National Historical Park rangers that their racial identity should dictate how they convey history to visiting Americans because America is purportedly racist.”

It continues: “Over the past decade, Americans have witnessed a concerted and widespread effort to rewrite our Nation’s history, replacing objective facts with a distorted narrative driven by ideology rather than truth. This revisionist movement seeks to undermine the remarkable achievements of the United States by casting its founding principles and historical milestones in a negative light.”

Philadelphia’s lawsuit claims federal officials offered “no explanation at all for their removal of the historical, educational displays at the President’s House site, let alone a reasoned one,” according to the complaint.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro criticized the removals on social media, writing on X, “Donald Trump will take any opportunity to rewrite and whitewash our history. But he picked the wrong city — and he sure as hell picked the wrong Commonwealth.”

“We learn from our history in Pennsylvania, even when it’s painful,” he added.

An Interior Department spokesperson said the agency “does not have comment on litigation matters.” Spokesperson Elizabeth Peace added in a statement, per The Washington Post: “The President has directed federal agencies to review interpretive materials to ensure accuracy, honesty, and alignment with shared national values.”

“Following completion of the required review, the National Park Service is now taking action to remove or revise interpretive materials in accordance with the Order,” Peace added.

The National Park Service did not immediately respond for comment. A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker was also contacted.

The removals come amid a broader push by the White House to reshape how federal institutions present American history. In August, the administration sent the Smithsonian a letter directing it to ensure its museums aligned with the president’s vision, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Eight Smithsonian museums were directed to review and update exhibitions, internal communications, featured artists and more.