Boston sues Trump administration to protect $20 million federal grant for infrastructure improvements

For immediate release: September 28, 2026
Media contact: Jackie Jena, jackie@publicrightsproject.org 

BOSTON — Today, Boston filed a lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful withdrawal of a $20 million federal grant for critical street infrastructure improvements in the city’s Roxbury neighborhood. The grant — awarded to the city in 2022 under the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grant program — would fund the Roxbury Resilient Corridors project along three major corridors. The city is represented by Public Rights Project and attorneys from the City of Boston Law Department.

“Boston lost a $20 million infrastructure grant over electric vehicle chargers that represented a fraction of 1% of the funding — infrastructure the federal government itself encouraged,” said Toby Merrill, litigation director at Public Rights Project. “That decision is arbitrary and unlawful. Federal agencies can’t rewrite Congress’s rules or their commitments to cities to fit changing political priorities, especially when residents pay the price. Public Rights Project is proud to represent Boston as it stands up for its residents.”

The lawsuit seeks to reverse the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) September 2025 decision to cancel Boston’s $20 million grant. DOT cited a single reason: the project included funding for electric vehicle charging representing less than 1% of project costs. The city argues that revoking the entire grant on that basis — after DOT had encouraged the city to include EV charging — violated the requirements Congress established for the program.

“We’re fighting for every dollar of investment to improve quality of life for Roxbury residents, commuters and businesses,” said Boston Mayor Michelle Wu. “Boston earned this competitive grant to meet community needs and address long-needed infrastructure upgrades. The City of Boston will continue to fight back against lawless federal attacks, and we urge the court to reverse the Trump administration’s illegal actions and restore these critical funds for Roxbury.”

“These funds are an essential investment in Roxbury and the unlawful cancellation of this grant is more evidence of Sean Duffy and Donald Trump’s contempt for the people we serve,” said Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). “Our shared constituents should be able to get where they need to go and public transit is a public good. The law is on our side here and this lawsuit is a critical step in defense of this project that our office fought hard to secure funding for. There was no good reason to rescind these funds — DOT should reverse course so we can move this project forward, improve the daily lives of commuters and enhance the climate resilience of at-risk communities — just as Congress intended.”

Congress created the RAISE program to support transportation and environmental investments in historically underserved communities. The Roxbury Resilient Corridors project would bring safety, accessibility, traffic management and quality-of-life improvements to some of Roxbury’s busiest corridors. The city argues that DOT’s decision to cancel the grant was unlawful and contrary to Congress’s requirements for the program.

“For decades, Roxbury has waited for significant investments to improve our roads and sidewalks, add more trees and public spaces and keep our families safe,” said Rev. Willie Bodrick, II, senior pastor of Twelfth Baptist Church and president & CEO of The American City Coalition. “These federal funds are critical in delivering much needed improvements, making it easier for everyone, but especially our kids and elders, to breathe clean air and get to where they need to safely in their community. I’m thankful to Mayor Wu and the City of Boston for standing up for our residents and look forward to continued partnership to ensure Roxbury receives this significant federal investment.”

“For six decades, Madison Park Development Corporation has invested in the people and families who make Roxbury the vibrant community it is today,” said Monica Dean, CEO of Madison Park Development Corporation. “This $20 million investment is about more than roads and infrastructure — it is about safer streets for our children, more accessible sidewalks for our seniors and families, better transit for our workers and a neighborhood that receives the investment it deserves. We thank Mayor Wu, Congresswoman Pressley and our federal, state and local partners for standing with Roxbury and fighting to ensure that commitments made to our community are honored.”

The case is City of Boston v. Duffy and was filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Read the lawsuit here.

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