Boston has sued the Trump administration after the U.S. Department of Transportation rescinded a $20 million RAISE grant for the Roxbury Resilient Corridor, citing a small EV-charger element the city says accounted for only about 1% of the budget. Mayor Michelle Wu and Rep. Ayanna Pressley called the move unlawful and politically motivated; Boston says it even offered to remove the chargers before funds were withheld. The DOT says it is reviewing the lawsuit, which highlights broader federal disputes over transportation and clean-energy priorities.
Boston Sues Trump Administration After DOT Rescinds $20M RAISE Grant Over 1% EV-Charger Item
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The City of Boston has filed suit against the Trump administration after the U.S. Department of Transportation withdrew a $20 million federal RAISE grant that had been awarded for the Roxbury Resilient Corridor project.
City officials say the funds were intended to repair long-neglected streets in Roxbury, making the neighborhood safer, less flood-prone and easier to navigate by bus, bicycle and on foot. The grant was originally awarded in 2022 through the RAISE program (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity).
According to the city and reporting in the Boston Globe, federal officials cited a small electric-vehicle (EV) charging component as the reason the project "no longer aligns with DOT priorities." Boston says that EV chargers represented roughly 1% of the total project budget and that officials had offered to remove the chargers before funds were withheld.
What the Project Would Have Done
The Roxbury Resilient Corridor proposal focused on improvements along Warren Street, Malcolm X Boulevard and Melnea Cass Boulevard. Planned investments included:
- Safer sidewalks and improved pedestrian crossings
- New protected bike lanes
- Road repairs and traffic-calming measures
- Upgraded bus stops and service to boost transit access
- Improved stormwater management to reduce flooding
Lawsuit And Reactions
Mayor Michelle Wu said the revocation was unlawful and politically motivated and announced the city had sued to restore the funding. In its complaint, Boston says it received a letter in September 2025 asserting the project no longer matched DOT priorities because of EV chargers, despite the chargers being a small fraction of overall costs.
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."
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (MA): "These funds are an essential investment in Roxbury and the unlawful cancellation of this grant is more evidence of [Transportation Secretary] Sean Duffy and Donald Trump's contempt for the people we serve. Our shared constituents should be able to get where they need to go, and public transit is a public good."
The Department of Transportation said it is reviewing the lawsuit and "remains committed to ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and in ways that benefit all Americans," according to the Globe.
Broader Context
Officials and observers place this dispute in a larger national context of shifting federal policy on transportation and clean-energy funding. Similar flashpoints include the Energy Department's 2025 pullback of $3.7 billion in green project funding and recent changes to federal emissions and transportation rules.
The city says that without the $20 million in federal support the corridor work cannot move forward, leaving planned safety, climate resilience and transit improvements on hold as the legal process unfolds.
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