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 r