BOSTON — A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing or altering historical exhibits at U.S. national parks and ordered the restoration of materials already changed, court records show.
U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley in Massachusetts issued the preliminary injunction on Friday in a lawsuit brought by conservation and historical organizations against the Department of the Interior.
The ruling halts efforts stemming from a March 2025 executive order directing the National Park Service to review and revise interpretive materials, signs and exhibits deemed to “inappropriately disparage” Americans or fail to emphasize positive aspects of the nation’s history and landscapes.
The judge ordered the Park Service to restore within three weeks any exhibits or materials that had been dismantled or altered since May 2025.
Plaintiffs, including the National Parks Conservation Association, argued that the administration’s actions amounted to censorship of factual content on topics including slavery, climate science and civil rights.
The Department of the Interior did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday.
The dispute centers on changes at parks across the country, including exhibits at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia detailing the lives of people enslaved by George Washington. Similar actions affected displays on Indigenous history, civil rights and environmental science at other sites.
Judge Kelley found that the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of success on claims that the removals violated federal laws governing the National Park Service, including requirements to preserve historical integrity.
"The actions set a dangerous precedent of censorship and sanitization," the ruling stated, according to reports.
The executive order followed broader administration efforts to address what it described as revisionist interpretations of American history. Supporters of the policy argued it aimed to present a more balanced view emphasizing national achievements.
Conservation groups and historians countered that the changes erased important factual context from public education at national parks, which serve as major venues for learning about U.S. history.
The order requires the government to provide the court with updates on restoration progress within five days and weekly thereafter.
The ruling comes ahead of the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations on July 4. The administration has indicated it may appeal the decision. Details on the full scope of affected exhibits and the timeline for compliance remained unclear as of Saturday.
