Trump Administration Questions Boston’s Housing Policies

The Trump administration has reached out to Mayor Michelle Wu, asking for clarification regarding her commitment to prioritize “non-white” individuals in housing support funded by taxpayers. The Housing and Urban Development Agency (HUD) expressed concerns about how Boston allocates federal housing funds, suggesting that it’s done in a discriminatory manner. This message was communicated to Sheila Dillon, the city’s residential chief, as reported by the Daily Caller News Foundation.

The letter cited content from Boston’s own website, which outlined goals for 2023. It mentioned that the city aims for 165 non-white families (about 62%) to secure their first homes, highlighting efforts to lessen barriers for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. The city also noted that part of its 2025 strategy involves tackling racial disparities by promoting homeownership and developmental opportunities for organizations led by BIPOC.

HUD’s correspondence indicated that Boston may not be fulfilling its obligations under federal law to guarantee fair access to federal housing benefits. The department has requested Dillon’s office to provide documents related to the racial or national origins of recipients of HUD funding within 15 days. It also requested assurance regarding compliance with Boston’s civil rights laws and the Fair Housing Act. If Boston fails to comply, HUD warned it could legally withhold federal funds.

Since assuming office in February, President Trump’s appointee as HUD Secretary has aimed to streamline institutional priorities, focusing on the nation’s living crisis. One of his first actions was to roll back Obama-era regulations that mandated domestic violence shelters accept transgender women to qualify for federal support.