Case: City of Boston v. Duffy

1:26-cv-14419 | U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts

Filed Date: Sept. 28, 2026

Case Ongoing

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Case Summary

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.] The City of Boston filed suit on September 28, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, and federal officials working within the agencies, alleging unlawful withdrawal of a $20 million grant. In August 2022, the federal department awarded the City the grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) through the Rebuilding …

[This summary is temporary while we research this case.]

The City of Boston filed suit on September 28, 2026, in U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts against the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Transit Administration, and federal officials working within the agencies, alleging unlawful withdrawal of a $20 million grant. In August 2022, the federal department awarded the City the grant under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) through the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) program to fund infrastructure improvements in a historically disadvantaged neighborhood, prioritizing environmental sustainability and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure. After three years of planning and compliance with all statutory criteria, the department abruptly withdrew the grant in September 2025, citing new priorities inconsistent with the IIJA’s published methodology and allegedly targeting sustainability initiatives. The City claimed the withdrawal was arbitrary, exceeded statutory authority, and violated constitutional principles, including the separation of powers and the Take Care Clause. It sought declaratory and injunctive relief, including reinstatement of the grant, preservation of funds, and reimbursement of costs.

This case is ongoing.

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74857922/parties/city-of-boston-v-duffy/

Judge(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Broom, Thomas (Massachusetts)

Constas, Christina M (Massachusetts)

Corrigan, Megan (Massachusetts)

Crawford, Cassandra L. (Massachusetts)

Dinning, Sam (Massachusetts)

Judge(s)

Stearns, Richard Gaylore (Massachusetts)

Attorney for Plaintiff

Broom, Thomas (Massachusetts)

Constas, Christina M (Massachusetts)

Corrigan, Megan (Massachusetts)

Crawford, Cassandra L. (Massachusetts)

Dinning, Sam (Massachusetts)

Merrill, Toby (Massachusetts)

Provost, Graham (Massachusetts)

Attorney Contact Information via CourtListener

Documents in the Clearinghouse

Documents in this case

1 1:26-cv-14419	Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief	Sept. 28, 2026	Sept. 28, 2026 Complaint

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Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/74857922/city-of-boston-v-duffy/

Last updated Oct. 8, 2026, 11:35 a.m.

Docket for: City of Boston v. Duffy

ECF Number	Date	Description	Link
1	Sept. 28, 2026	COMPLAINT against All Defendants (Fee Status: Local Government), filed by City of Boston. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Category Form, # 3 Exhibit A, # 4 Exhibit B, # 5 Exhibit C, # 6 Exhibit D, # 7 Exhibit E, # 8 Exhibit F, # 9 Exhibit G, # 10 Exhibit H, # 11 Exhibit I)(Corrigan, Megan) (Entered: 09/28/2026) 1 Civil Cover Sheet View on PACER 2 Category Form View on PACER 3 Exhibit A View on PACER 4 Exhibit B View on PACER 5 Exhibit C View on PACER 6 Exhibit D View on PACER 7 Exhibit E View on PACER 8 Exhibit F View on PACER 9 Exhibit G View on PACER 10 Exhibit H View on PACER 11 Exhibit I View on PACER	Clearinghouse
2	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Megan Corrigan on behalf of City of Boston (Corrigan, Megan) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
3	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Thomas Broom on behalf of City of Boston (Broom, Thomas) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
4	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Christina M Constas on behalf of City of Boston (Constas, Christina) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
5	Sept. 28, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Case Assignment. Judge Brian E. Murphy assigned to case. If the trial Judge issues an Order of Reference of any matter in this case to a Magistrate Judge, the matter will be transmitted to Magistrate Judge Jessica D. Hedges. (SP) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
6	Sept. 28, 2026	Judge Brian E. Murphy: ELECTRONIC ORDER OF RECUSAL - In accordance with 28 U.S.C. § 455(a), I hereby recuse myself from this proceeding. The Clerk is directed to return the case for reassignment. (BIB) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
7	Sept. 28, 2026	ELECTRONIC NOTICE of Reassignment. Judge Richard G. Stearns added. Judge Brian E. Murphy no longer assigned to case. (SP) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
8	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Toby Merrill on behalf of City of Boston (Merrill, Toby) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
9	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Cassandra L. Crawford on behalf of City of Boston (Crawford, Cassandra) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
10	Sept. 28, 2026	First MOTION for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice for admission of Graham Provost Filing fee: $ 125, receipt number AMADC-12070066 by City of Boston. (Attachments: # 1 Declaration)(Crawford, Cassandra) (Attachment 1 replaced on 9/29/2026) (JAM). (Entered: 09/28/2026) 1 Declaration View on RECAP	RECAP
11	Sept. 28, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Sam Dinning on behalf of City of Boston (Dinning, Sam) (Entered: 09/28/2026)	RECAP
	Sept. 28, 2026	Order Of Recusal
	Sept. 28, 2026	Notice of Case Assignment
	Sept. 28, 2026	Notice of Reassignment
12	Sept. 29, 2026	Judge Richard G. Stearns: ELECTRONIC ORDER entered granting 10 Motion for Leave to Appear Pro Hac Vice Added Graham Provost. Attorneys admitted Pro Hac Vice must have an individual PACER account, not a shared firm account, to electronically file in the District of Massachusetts. To register for a PACER account, go the Pacer website at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/register-account. You must put the docket number under ADDITIONAL FILER INFORMATION on your form when registering or it will be rejected.Pro Hac Vice Admission Request Instructions https://www.mad.uscourts.gov/caseinfo/nextgen-pro-hac-vice.htm.A Notice of Appearance must be entered on the docket by the newly admitted attorney. (JAM) (Entered: 09/29/2026)	RECAP
	Sept. 29, 2026	Order on Motion for Leave to Appear
13	Sept. 30, 2026	NOTICE of Appearance by Graham Provost on behalf of City of Boston (Provost, Graham) (Entered: 09/30/2026)	RECAP
14	Oct. 1, 2026	Summons Issued as to Matthew Cahill, Sean P. Duffy, Federal Transit Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Counsel receiving this notice electronically should download this summons, complete one for each defendant and serve it in accordance with Fed.R.Civ.P. 4 and LR 4.1. Summons will be mailed to plaintiff(s) not receiving notice electronically for completion of service. (JAM) (Entered: 10/01/2026)	RECAP