A federal appeals court has ruled that the Trump administration can temporarily halt work on a National Park Service slavery exhibit in Philadelphia while it appeals a lower court order to reinstall it. The decision comes after the administration abruptly removed about half of the large panels from the outdoor exhibit at the former President's House on Independence Mall in January.

The exhibit, which examines the paradox between slavery and freedom in America's founding, details the lives of nine people enslaved under President George Washington in the 1790s when Philadelphia served as the nation's capital. U.S. District Judge Cynthia M. Rufe had ordered the materials restored by Friday, but that order is now on hold pending appeal. The Interior Department plans to replace the exhibit with its own narrative on slavery.

The legal battle has intensified as Philadelphia prepares for millions of visitors expected for the 250th anniversary of the country's founding in 1776. The appeals court will expedite its review, but the dispute could continue for another month or more. The case highlights tensions between federal authorities and local officials over how American history is presented at national historic sites.