Right to Truth

After a struggle for power between levels of the court, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals decided on June 18th, 2026, that the federal government had the power to remove a slavery exhibit from George Washington’s home in Philadelphia (NBC Philadelphia Staff). The censorship had first been made in response to President Trump’s Executive Order 14253, Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History. The decree sought to delve into federal lands and monuments, removing, censoring, and altering any information that the ruling administration deemed to have “improper ideology” (The White House). With the order, the National Park Service sent workers to remove certain information panels from George and Martha Washington’s Philadelphia house, due to including information detailing slavery and how the Washingtons had kept nine slaves in the house while living there.

The city of Philadelphia, joined by Governor Josh Shapiro, argued that the federal government had to consult the city before making changes to the site, as it was the municipality that provided both personnel and $1.5 million to help create it. Though lawyers from the Department of Justice argued that the federal government reserved the sole right to tell the narrative at National Park Service properties, Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Cynthia M. Rufe, ordered the site’s restoration, and that no further changes could be made without the consideration of the City of Philadelphia (Mitman). However, this decision was appealed by the federal government, and did not last long.

In its decision, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals found that any power of the city in maintaining the historic site did not extend over the federal government. Indeed, the Court decided fully in favor of the Trump Administration, and the doors for federal change are now wide open. Still, the decision is facing hard pushback, with political figures like Governor Shapiro and Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker criticizing the action, and vowing to fight for its repeal.