History cannot be erased…at least for now.

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore slavery-related panels at Philadelphia’s President’s House site, saying the government cannot erase historically accurate material from the landmark. 

However, it’s a legal fight that is still playing out. The ruling centers on exhibits that describe the lives of nine people enslaved by George Washington when Philadelphia served as the nation’s capital.

The order came in a lawsuit filed by Philadelphia and conservation groups after the National Park Service removed the panels in January under an executive order aimed at ending exhibits that “inappropriately disparage” Americans, past or living. 

In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley said the plaintiffs showed the changes were meant “to rewrite the Nation’s history with a white-out pen,” ABC shares.

“History cannot be faithfully told while excluding the experiences of communities whose contributions, struggles, and achievements form an important part of our Nation's story,” the judge wrote. “Under the guise of promoting American dignity, this Administration seeks to share a limited history by ordering the removal of all signs, displays, and interpretive exhibits at National Parks that do not align with its preferred narrative, thereby telling half-truths.”

The panels were part of the President’s House memorial at Independence National Historical Park and had been on display for years. Historians and local advocates said the exhibit was an essential part of telling the full story of the site, including the presence of enslaved people in Washington’s household. The removal also drew criticism because it came as national debates over race, museums, and public memory have intensified.

The judge’s decision requires the federal government to restore the material and pause further changes to the site while the case continues. According to reports, the administration must also file weekly status updates on its progress. The ruling is a reminder that fights over history are still being decided in court, not just in classrooms or at museum exhibits.