Two Federal Court Cases Challenge Removal of Historical Materials from National Parks
Nationwide Injunction on Exhibit Removal
On June 27, 2025, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Boston issued a preliminary injunction against the Trump administration, ordering the restoration of exhibits and signs that were removed or altered at national parks and monuments following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March 2025.
The administration was given 21 days to comply, with a deadline before the 250th anniversary of the U.S. The injunction also halts any further changes pending the outcome of litigation and requires the administration to provide weekly status reports on its progress.
"The administration's actions were intended 'to rewrite the Nation's history with a white-out pen.'"
— Judge Angel Kelley, in her 63-page ruling
The lawsuit was filed in February 2025 by a coalition including the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), the American Association for State and Local History, the Association of National Park Rangers, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. The plaintiffs argued that the Interior Department's actions violated congressional mandates and constituted an unlawful policy without a reasoned explanation.
The Executive Order
The legal dispute stems from Executive Order No. 14253, titled "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History," signed by President Trump in March 2025. The order directed the Interior Secretary to review monuments, memorials, and statues for alterations made after January 2020 that might represent a "false construction of American history." It instructed the Department of the Interior to prevent sites from displaying elements that "inappropriately disparage Americans past or living" and to "focus on the greatness of the achievements and progress of the American people."
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum subsequently directed the removal of "improper partisan ideology" from federally controlled exhibits. A spokesperson for the Department of the Interior stated that the policy required parks to "tell the full and accurate story of American history."
Examples of Changes Cited in Lawsuits
The lawsuits cited numerous specific changes made at national park sites following the executive order:
Location Change Made Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA Removed exhibits about nine African-Americans enslaved by George Washington at the President's House Stonewall National Monument, New York, NY A rainbow Pride flag, a permanent fixture since 2022, was removed Grand Teton National Park, WY A marker referencing the role of explorer Gustavus Cheyney Doane in the massacre of at least 173 Piegan Blackfeet members was removed Fort Sumter National Monument, SC A sign detailing climate change impacts, including rising sea levels, was removed entirely Grand Canyon National Park, AZ Signage describing settlers displacing Native American tribes and exploiting the landscape for mining and grazing was removed Glacier National Park, MT Materials detailing the effects of climate change and the disappearance of glaciers were ordered to be removed Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail, AL Approximately 80 items related to the civil rights movement were flagged for removal Brown v. Board of Education National Historical Park, KS An exhibit mentioning "equity" was flagged Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, AZ A sign was altered due to an image featuring a Pride flag Lowell National Historical Park, MA Labor history films were removedAn advocacy group, Save Our Signs, stated that at least 45 signs were altered under the directive. The American Historical Association criticized the executive order, stating it misrepresents the work of historical institutions.
Court Rulings and Statements
Judge Kelley wrote that the removals "not only undermine the integrity of the National Parks; it sets a dangerous precedent of censorship and sanitization." She further noted that "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."
A spokesperson for the Interior Department criticized the ruling, calling Judge Kelley "a liberal activist judge" and stated the department would "look at our appeal options while we celebrate UFC Freedom 250."
Alan Spears of the NPCA called the ruling a "big damn deal," stating it puts a stop to "sanitization, censorship and softening of history."
Philadelphia President's House Exhibit Case
Background
In January 2025, National Park Service employees removed educational panels and artwork from the President's House Site, located within Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. The exhibit, which opened in 2010, provided biographical information about nine enslaved individuals who lived with George Washington during his presidency (1790-1797).
The site served as a residence for Presidents George Washington and John Adams. Washington brought enslaved individuals to the home. In 2002, the House of Representatives urged the NPS to acknowledge the enslaved people at the site. A cooperative agreement between the NPS and the city of Philadelphia in 2006 led to the establishment of the exhibit, which included a memorial and panels about slavery.
Following the removal, the city of Philadelphia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of the Interior, the National Park Service, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and NPS Acting Director Jessica Bowron. The city argued that the removal violated the 2006 cooperative agreement, which required the parties to meet and confer before any changes were made, and that the actions were "arbitrary and capricious."
Court Rulings
On February 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe, an appointee of former President George W. Bush, issued an injunction ordering the restoration of the exhibit.
"The federal government does not have the power 'to dissemble and disassemble historical truths.'"
— Judge Cynthia Rufe
Judge Rufe compared the administration's actions to the "Ministry of Truth" from George Orwell's novel 1984, stating: "This Court is now 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 injunction mandated the full restoration of all original materials and prohibited the administration from installing alternative exhibits while the lawsuit proceeds.
Restoration and Appeal
On Thursday, March 20, 2025, restoration workers began reinstalling the exhibit panels at the President's House site. The administration submitted a request for a stay on the injunction pending an appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker visited the site on the day restoration began. The administration has stated that it holds sole authority over narratives presented at National Park Service properties. A spokesperson for the Interior Department criticized the city's lawsuit and stated that updated interpretive materials providing a "fuller account of the history of slavery" would have been installed without a court order.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers described the lawsuit as premature and based on "inaccurate and mischaracterized information," noting that the Interior Department's review was ongoing and actions were not yet finalized.
Additional Related Actions
A separate lawsuit was filed by LGBTQ+ rights advocates and historic preservationists concerning the removal of the rainbow Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument. The plaintiffs argue the flag provided historical context and that its removal was part of a broader effort targeting the LGBTQ+ community.
The American Battle Monuments Commission also removed a cemetery display in the Netherlands that acknowledged the contributions of African American World War II soldiers and the discrimination they encountered.