The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced Thursday that it is opening an investigation into the city of Boston’s housing policies, examining perceived discrimination against white residents.
In a letter to Mayor Michelle Wu, Craig Trainor — HUD’s assistant secretary for fair housing and equal opportunity — said city officials had prioritized people of color in their affordable housing strategy.
Accusations also include encouraging banks and real estate developers to focus on those communities, rather than all low-income households, the Washington Post first reported.
“As you are aware, the Trump administration is dedicated to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. At your office’s direction, however, city officials have set out to smuggle ‘racial equity into every layer of operations in city government,’” Trainor wrote, quoting Boston’s website on racial justice initiatives.
Trainor said his office is investigating whether the city violated federal laws prohibiting discrimination in housing sales or rentals based on race, sex or national origin. The inquiry could result in federal charges against the city, according to reports.
A statement from Wu’s office given to The New York Times called the investigation “unhinged attacks from Washington” and added, “Boston will never abandon our commitment to fair and affordable housing.”
The investigation comes amid broader efforts under the Trump administration to roll back civil rights protections and limit diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
In September, two HUD lawyers were removed after raising concerns that cuts to the agency’s fair housing office were slowing investigations into housing discrimination.
Internal documents reviewed by The New York Times showed efforts to limit enforcement of the Fair Housing Act — the landmark civil rights law that has prohibited housing discrimination for nearly six decades.
Wu, a Democrat, ran unopposed for a second term in November.
According to the city of Boston’s website, more than 5,000 affordable housing units have been built in Boston since the start of her first term in 2021.
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