Boston sues Trump administration over cuts to housing, homeless funding

Boston is taking the Trump administration to court.

The city joined several other municipal and county governments in a lawsuit over the administration's effort to cut $3.6 billion in federal housing and homelessness prevention funding — unless local authorities agreed to a list of policy demands, according to a statement released Monday by Boston Mayor Michelle Wu.

“The Trump Administration is threatening to hold up nearly $48 million for Boston to tackle homelessness unless our City complies with unconstitutional Executive Orders,” said Wu. “We are joining other cities and counties across the country to protect critical funding to prevent homelessness and house families in need. Boston will not back down on making our city a home for everyone.”

The complaint, filed in federal court in the state of Washington on May 2, focuses on federal funding like Housing and Urban Development's Continuum of Care Program, which provides federal dollars to help communities combat homelessness. According to the suit, the Trump administration has threatened to cut off funding to the program unless municipalities agree to adhere to the president's executive orders, including directives to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs; to force local law enforcement to work with immigration and deportation agents; and to eliminate "gender ideology."

That demand is unconstitutional, because it assumes powers vested to Congress, according to the plaintiffs in the suit.

"Without Congress passing his anti-DEI agenda, President Trump instead purports to have granted himself unchecked Article II powers to legislate by executive order and impose his decrees on state and local governments seeking grant funding," the local governments wrote in the complaint.

Boston has been in the administration's crosshairs for months, in particular the city's Trust Act, which affirms that local law enforcement is not required to help federal immigration authorities in non-criminal cases. The local law does not prevent police from assisting in turning over individuals involved in criminal activity.

Wu was among a cadre of big city mayors questioned by a Congressional committee about these policies, often referred to as "sanctuary city" laws. Wu answered tough questions from the panel's Republican members while touting Boston's historically low homicide rate. Her appearance made national coverage and garnered the city executive an invite to The Daily Show.