Federal Civil Rights Investigation Launched Into Boston Housing Program Under Boston Mayor Michelle Wu

 

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

Federal Civil Rights Investigation Launched Into Boston Housing Program Under Mayor Michelle Wu

BOSTON — The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has opened a civil rights investigation into Boston Mayor Michelle Wu’s housing policies, raising questions about whether the city’s affordable housing programs unlawfully prioritize applicants based on race.

HUD officials confirmed Thursday that the probe will examine Boston initiatives that allegedly favor Black and Latino residents in access to affordable housing. The investigation marks the first racial discrimination inquiry into a city’s housing practices under the Civil Rights Act initiated during President Donald Trump’s current administration.

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon confirmed the investigation publicly, signaling that federal authorities are scrutinizing whether Boston’s policies violate constitutional and civil rights protections. “Stay tuned,” Dhillon said, indicating the review is ongoing.

In a letter sent to Mayor Wu, Craig Trainor, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity, argued that Boston may have crossed legal boundaries by incorporating race-based criteria into housing strategies.

“No person or entity—the City of Boston included—is permitted to violate civil rights protections in the name of ‘Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion,’” Trainor wrote. He cited the Fourteenth Amendment and accused the city of advancing what he called a “racialist theory of housing justice,” likening the approach to historic government-sponsored redlining.

HUD’s concerns are largely based on a 2022 city report, City of Boston Assessment of Fair Housing, which outlines targeted efforts to combat gentrification and displacement. The report states that Black and Latino residents face disproportionate risks of eviction and housing discrimination and describes programs designed to address those disparities.

Mayor Wu’s office rejected the allegations, defending the city’s policies and accusing federal officials of mischaracterizing Boston’s housing efforts.

“Boston will never abandon our commitment to fair and affordable housing,” Wu’s office said in a statement to Boston 25 News. “We will defend our progress to keep Bostonians in their homes against these unhinged attacks from Washington.”

The investigation comes amid broader tensions between the Trump administration and local governments over housing and homelessness policy. Earlier this month, Wu announced that Boston had joined 11 other jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations in a lawsuit challenging federal restrictions on homelessness funding, arguing the changes could push hundreds of thousands of people into housing insecurity during winter months.

The HUD probe also follows reporting by The New York Times detailing internal disputes within the department, including claims from current and former employees that political appointees have weakened enforcement of the Fair Housing Act, which was passed in 1968 following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Federal officials say the investigation will determine whether Boston’s housing policies violate federal civil rights law. No findings or enforcement actions have yet been announced.

---

FAQs: Federal Investigation Into Boston Housing Policies

What is being investigated in Boston?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has launched a civil rights investigation into Boston’s affordable housing policies under Mayor Michelle Wu.

Why did HUD open this investigation?

HUD alleges that certain city housing programs may unlawfully prioritize applicants based on race, potentially violating federal civil rights protections.

Which federal officials are involved?

The investigation was announced by HUD and confirmed by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon. HUD Assistant Secretary Craig Trainor formally notified Mayor Wu.

What laws are cited in the investigation?

HUD referenced the Fourteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights Act, raising concerns about compliance with the Fair Housing Act.

What specific city policies are under scrutiny?

HUD cited Boston’s 2022 report, City of Boston Assessment of Fair Housing, which outlines targeted housing strategies aimed at assisting Black and Latino residents at higher risk of eviction and displacement.

How has Mayor Michelle Wu responded?

Wu’s office denied the allegations, saying Boston remains committed to fair and affordable housing and will defend its policies against federal claims.

Is this the first investigation of its kind under the current administration?

Yes. HUD officials say this is the first racial discrimination investigation into a city’s housing practices launched during President Donald Trump’s current administration.

Could the investigation lead to changes in Boston’s housing programs?

If HUD finds violations, the city could be required to modify or end certain housing policies or face enforcement actions.

How does this relate to broader housing policy disputes?

The probe comes amid ongoing legal and political conflicts between the Trump administration and local governments over housing, homelessness funding, and enforcement of fair housing laws.

What happens next?

The investigation is ongoing. HUD has not announced a timeline or potential penalties, and no conclusions have been reached at this stage.

---