Philadelphia, PA – A federal judge in Pennsylvania on Monday cited George Orwell’s 1984 in a ruling against arguments advanced by attorneys representing former President Donald Trump’s administration, rejecting claims that the federal government can reshape historical accounts tied to slavery and other historical facts.
According to a memorandum opinion issued February 16, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the court determined that the government does not have sweeping authority to “erase, alter, remove and hide historical accounts” connected to taxpayer- and locally funded monuments and records.
The case was brought by the City of Philadelphia, which challenged federal efforts to control or revise historical messaging on public properties. During oral arguments, attorneys for the defendants argued that the government ultimately “gets to choose the message it wants to convey,” even when people strongly disagree.
In her opinion, Judge Rufe compared that position to Orwell’s fictional “Ministry of Truth,” writing that the federal government does not have the power “to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts.” The ruling emphasized that historical facts, including those related to slavery, cannot be selectively rewritten based on political leadership.
Supporters of the city’s position described the decision as a victory for preserving historical integrity, while legal analysts noted the ruling could have broader implications for how federal agencies approach monument language and historical interpretation nationwide.
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