November 13, 2025
Supporters of the HBCU have referred to as Abbott’s crackdown racially motivated.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has launched an investigation into Texas Southern College, warning the HBCU about its potential monetary points.
Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick accepted an investigation into the Houston-based establishment over claims of fraud and monetary abuse. Gov. Abbott didn’t mince phrases towards faculty officers after a state auditor famous “deficiencies in oversight, contracting, processes, and reporting,” particularly provided that TSU does obtain state funding.
The allotted {dollars} that TSU receives from Texas stay undisclosed. Nevertheless, the governor famous that “a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars}” had been allegedly misallocated. Abbott referred to as upon the Texas Division of Public Security and the Texas Comptroller’s Workplace to help within the state investigation.
“The Texas State Auditor uncovered important monetary and operational points with Texas Southern College’s accounting procedures, alleging the potential misappropriation of a whole lot of tens of millions of {dollars},” Abbott mentioned, as reported by Afrotech.
He continued, “Waste, fraud, and abuse is not going to be tolerated. TSU’s Board of Regents and all college officers should totally cooperate with these investigations to make sure taxpayer {dollars} aren’t squandered.”
As for his second-in-command, Patrick shared on X in regards to the “shoddy work” contractors accomplished for the college. The Lt. Governor additionally warned that the state may probably freeze funding if corrections aren’t made.
Over the previous few months, the Texas State Auditor has been auditing Texas Southern College. They’ve been reviewing TSU’s monetary processes, procurement operations, and stock data.
Over the weekend, I used to be knowledgeable of disturbing data suggesting the misuse of… pic.twitter.com/c93sBTO826
— Workplace of the Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (@LtGovTX) November 10, 2025
“Sadly, TSU has come below scrutiny prior to now over how funds and contracts have been dealt with, in addition to shoddy work executed by contractors. There was a revolving door of presidents, board members, and college officers. Commencement charges haven’t met expectations.”
He added, “The losers aren’t solely Texas taxpayers, however the college students of TSU, having no concept that funding meant for his or her high quality training was both fraudulently spent or thrown away by sloppy, unprofessional accounting processes.”
In keeping with the audit shared, 743 invoices totaling $282.2 million had been paid on to distributors with expired contracts. The state auditor additionally detailed that $158 million in invoices had been dated earlier than the purchases gained approval. Nevertheless, in addition they famous that the college had delayed reporting of fiscal paperwork resulting from staffing points.
Nevertheless, some Texas officers imagine Abbott’s therapy of the HBCU is racially motivated. The GOP-led state authorities has adopted the federal authorities’s lead in eliminating variety, fairness, and inclusion initiatives. In gentle of this, state lawmakers imagine that Abbott’s actions search to demean the traditionally Black establishment.
State Rep. Jolanda Jones argued that Abbott is trying to erase the college’s numerous historical past with this crackdown. Jones additionally famous how the governor appoints members of TSU’s Board of Regents.
“If there’s any malfeasance happening, what does that need to do with the college if you appointed the individuals who run the college? “You might be actually making an attempt to erase Black excellence, you’re making an attempt to erase us,” mentioned the lawmaker.
The college confronted and overcame a monetary scandal years prior, notably over regulation faculty admissions in 2020. Nevertheless, state officers’ present threats to freeze funding for one of many largest HBCUs have alarmed many nationwide.
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