Campo Belo What we know

1. Initial removal
   The National Park Service (NPS) removed the statue because it was not compliant with permitting rules.  During that removal, parts of the statue were damaged—its hands had been disconnected, and sections were broken apart.  
2. Repair and reassembly
   The artist group behind the statue (often called “The Secret Handshake”) repaired and reassembled it before reinstalling it.  They restored it “mostly intact,” with only minor damage still visible (for example, where joins had been stressed).  
3. Permit reapproval
   The crucial procedural move was securing a fresh permit—or having one approved—so that the installation was legally permissible.  According to a Sept. 30 email, the NPS acknowledged a permit application and stated that, by rule, the application is deemed granted within 24 hours unless a denial is issued.  Because of a federal government shutdown, the Park Service was unable to publicly comment immediately, which may have made the timing easier.  
4. Reinstallation
   With the permit accepted (or not denied) and the statue restored, the group re-installed the statue on the Mall.  It was placed back in its former location, hands clasped, rebuild complete.