Appeals Court Clears Path for Changes to Philadelphia Slavery Exhibit

The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that removing the exhibit did not qualify as a formal agency action subject to judicial review under the Administrative Procedure Act. Writing for the panel, Judge Thomas Hardiman noted the agency’s plans for replacement panels, which he described as containing historical context regarding Washington’s evolving views on slavery. The original dispute arose after the administration targeted exhibits it labeled as revisionist, leading to a lawsuit from the city of Philadelphia over alleged breaches of local consultation agreements.

Despite this legal victory for the administration, the future of the site remains uncertain. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker has pledged to continue fighting the decision, while a separate ruling from a federal judge in Boston mandates the restoration of all national park exhibits removed under the administration's directive. U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley declined to pause her nationwide injunction, creating a direct conflict between the two court rulings that likely forces further litigation.