Houston lawmakers defend TSU as state investigation threatens university funding.
HOUSTON — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to launch an investigation into Texas Southern University after Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said a state audit revealed thousands of unauthorized invoices totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Texas Southern University’s Board of Regents pledged Tuesday to fully cooperate with state auditors and accelerate internal reforms.
The Texas State Auditor’s Office has been conducting an audit of TSU since May 2025, reviewing the university’s financial processes, procurement operations and inventory records. State Auditor Lisa R. Collier sent an interim update to the Legislative Audit Committee on Monday detailing “significant financial and operational weaknesses” at the university.
According to Collier’s letter, data analysis identified 743 invoices totaling approximately $282.2 million for vendors whose contracts were listed in the contract database as expired. Additionally, auditors found 8,144 invoices totaling approximately $158 million with invoice dates before their requisition dates.
Patrick first shared the findings Monday morning in a series of posts on X, writing that he was “informed of disturbing information suggesting the misuse of state funds.” He said the audit revealed “thousands of unauthorized invoices totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.” In a follow-up post, Patrick said he was asking the Texas Rangers to investigate and that “no more state dollars should go to TSU until this is cleared up.”
Gov. Abbott also posted on X later in the day, confirming he directed the Texas Rangers to launch an investigation. In his statement, Abbott called the findings “significant” and added that “waste, fraud, and abuse will not be tolerated.”
TSU released the following statement:
“Texas Southern University has cooperated with the state auditor in evaluating our processes. The University enacted corrective measures prior to the release of the interim report, including a new procurement system. We look forward to gaining clarity and continuing to work with the state auditor to ensure transparency for all taxpayers of Texas.”
On Tuesday, the TSU Board of Regents released a statement acknowledging the university has faced “historical challenges related to financial oversight, procurement practices, and compliance with prior state audits.” The board said these issues “have persisted across multiple administrations and now are being addressed.”
The audit also revealed that TSU has not been conducting annual physical inventories and its official system for tracking assets was incomplete, outdated and inconsistently maintained.
“The Texas State Auditor uncovered significant financial and operational issues with Texas Southern University’s accounting procedures, alleging the potential misappropriation of hundreds of millions of dollars,” said Governor Abbott in an emailed news release. “Today, I directed the Texas Rangers to launch an investigation and called on the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts to assist them in their efforts to fully analyze their finances. Waste, fraud, and abuse will not be tolerated. TSU’s Board of Regents and all university officials must fully cooperate with these investigations to ensure taxpayer dollars are not squandered.”
“Over the weekend, I was informed of disturbing information suggesting the misuse of state funds,” Patrick said in a statement posted to social media Monday afternoon. “This morning, the auditor confirmed that thousands of unauthorized invoices totaling hundreds of millions of dollars have been identified.”
Patrick asked Texas Rangers to work with the State Auditor to determine if there are violations of state law.
“Everyone involved must be held accountable, from school employees to contractors, going back as many years as there are questionable records and practices,” he said.
The lieutenant governor also announced plans to contact Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows to agree on budget execution language that would freeze TSU’s current appropriation.
“I don’t want one more taxpayer dollar spent until this issue is resolved,” Patrick said.
Patrick noted that TSU has faced scrutiny in the past over financial management and contracting issues, and has experienced turnover among presidents, board members and school officials.
“The Legislature has continued year after year to try to help the school. It appears the Legislature has been misled over this time period on promised improvements in accounting practices and contracting,” he said.
Collier stated in her letter that she is meeting with university officials on Thursday to discuss the audit results. The State Auditor’s Office began the audit in May 2025 as part of the Fiscal Year 2025 Audit Plan.
“The losers are not only Texas taxpayers, but the students of TSU, having no idea that funding meant for their quality education was either fraudulently spent or thrown away by sloppy, unprofessional accounting processes,” Patrick said.
State representatives respond
The investigation has drawn sharp criticism from state lawmakers who represent the historically Black university. State Rep. Jolanda Jones, whose district includes TSU, said her family has deep ties to the school.
“My mother graduated from the Texas Southern University, my dad attended Southern,” Jones said.
Jones questioned the governor’s role in the matter, noting that Abbott appoints the school’s board of regents.
“If there’s any malfeasance going on, what does that have to do with the university when you appointed the people who run the university?” Jones said.
She also accused state leaders of targeting the institution because of race.
“You are literally trying to erase Black excellence, you’re trying to erase us,” Jones said.
State Rep. Ron Reynolds, a TSU graduate, echoed Jones’s concerns and suggested the investigation is part of a larger effort to undermine the university.
“A pattern that we find ourselves in that is basically attacking blackness through anti-diversity, equity and inclusion,” Reynolds said.
“And there are many people who want to see TSU in a system,” Reynolds said.
Reynolds warned that the university’s independence could be threatened if state leaders follow through on suggestions to freeze funding. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has proposed such a funding freeze for TSU’s current appropriation.
“What does this mean? They’re going to freeze the funding for Texas Southern University? How are they going to operate on a day-to-day basis?” Reynolds said.
State senator Borris Miles expressed concern for the students and hoped this was not an attempt by the state to reduce the university’s independence.
“While oversight, reform, and transparency are necessary, we must also preserve TSU’s autonomy and its mission to serve underrepresented communities,” Miles said in part.
Board of Regents responds
The Board of Regents issued a statement Tuesday afternoon, admitting to “historical challenges related to financial oversight,” and agreeing to cooperate with the auditor’s office. The full letter reads:
Statement from the Texas Southern University Board of Regents
The Texas Southern University Board of Regents has received initial information regarding the interim audit report from the Texas State Auditor’s Office, and has reviewed the public statements made pertaining to this initial information. We take these, and all fiscal matters, with the utmost seriousness.
An ongoing, self-initiated internal examination of the University’s procedures identified process deficiencies, and the efforts to address these were conveyed to the State Auditor’s team at the outset of this process. The Board of Regents and the University welcomed the State Auditor’s assessment on the issues now under review in the current audit. University officials have been cooperating with the State Auditor since the audit’s inception and look forward to the opportunity to meet with the state’s team later this week to review and address the audit findings, as well as presenting the University’s reform efforts already underway.
The Board fully acknowledges that Texas Southern has faced historical challenges related to financial oversight, procurement practices, and compliance with prior state audits. These issues have persisted across multiple administrations and now are being addressed. The Board has been focused on corrective actions, and will continue to do so, as follows:
- Cooperate fully with the State Auditor’s Office and all state authorities, and provide access to all requested financial records;
- Work closely with state officials to implement corrective actions for any cited process concerns, and collaborate with all relevant stakeholders to ensure accountability for any potential errors in University policies or procedures;
- Accelerate the internal reform efforts already underway at the University to modernize financial systems, strengthen procurement and contracting controls, and improve institutional accountability; and
- Maintain transparent communication with the Legislature, state leadership, and the public throughout this process.
The Board remains committed to build confidence in Texas Southern University’s stewardship of public resources and fulfilling our mission to provide quality higher education to our students. We believe that full cooperation and transparency are essential to trust and securing Texas Southern’s future as a vital institution for Texas.
James M. Benham, Chairman Texas Southern University Board of Regents
Texas Southern University | Board of Regents
Got a news tip or story idea? Email us at newstips@khou.com or call 713-521-4310 and include the best way to reach you.