1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to support U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe's February 17, 2026 ruling requiring the Trump administration to restore the slavery exhibits at the President's House Site on Independence Mall in Philadelphia. This decision protects historical truth from government censorship and upholds congressional authority over our national parks. In January 2026, National Park Service employees removed displays detailing the lives of nine people George Washington enslaved at the home while he was president. This removal was enforced under a White House executive order to eliminate exhibits "disparaging" American history. Judge Rufe, appointed by President George W. Bush, issued a 40-page decision comparing the administration's rationale to the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell's "1984," writing that the court was being asked "to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims — to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not." The legal foundation of this ruling matters. Judge Rufe determined that Congress limited the authority of the Department of the Interior and National Park Service to unilaterally alter Independence National Historic Park without agreement from the city of Philadelphia. The agencies cannot flout that congressional directive. This is about respecting the separation of powers and congressional intent. As Upper Darby resident Yolanda Parks stated while visiting the exhibit with her family: "How will we know where we came from if the history doesn't remain. You can't change history just because right now you're feeling some kind of way." Attorney Michael Coard, founder of Avenging the Ancestors Coalition, called the decision "a great day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and America," noting the significance of the ruling coming on Presidents Day. I ask that you publicly support this ruling and oppose any efforts to undermine it. Uncomfortable history must not be erased. Our national parks should present complete historical accounts, including the experiences of enslaved people who built this nation.