“As you know, the Trump Administration is committed to protecting the civil rights of all Americans. However, at the direction of your office, city officials have planned to ‘smuggle racial equity into every layer of city government operations,'” Trainor wrote, citing Boston’s website on racial justice initiatives.
Trainor said his office is investigating whether the city violated federal laws prohibiting discrimination in the sale or rental of housing based on race, sex or national origin. According to reports, the investigation could result in federal charges against the city.
A statement from Wu’s office 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 as part of broader efforts under the Trump administration to roll back civil rights protections and limit diversity, equity and inclusion policies.
In September, two HUD attorneys were fired after raising concerns that budget cuts to the fair housing agency were delaying housing discrimination investigations.
Internal documents assessed of The New York Times showed efforts to limit enforcement of the Fair Housing Act—the landmark civil rights law that has banned 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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