A federal appeals court questioned the city of Philadelphia's authority in a lawsuit regarding the restoration of a slavery exhibit at the President’s House site, which is managed by the federal government. During a hearing on June 2, 2026, a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit examined arguments related to a Trump administration appeal against a district court ruling that had ordered the restoration of the exhibit, which included references to slavery.
Justice Department lawyer Gregory in den Berken argued that the federal government has discretion over curatorial decisions at National Park Service properties. Philadelphia's attorney, Anne Taylor, faced scrutiny from the judges about the city's interest in dictating the exhibits at a site not operated by them. The judges questioned the premise that the exhibit, titled 'Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation,' which focused on the nine slaves who lived at the location during George Washington's presidency, should remain unchanged.
The exhibit was removed in January 2026 following an executive action by President Trump that aimed to eliminate displays deemed to misrepresent American history. The appeals court did not indicate when it would issue a ruling on the appeal. The panel included judges appointed by both Republican and Democratic presidents.
