Texas A&M Cancels Conference Attendance After Governor's Legal Threat

Governor Greg Abbott criticized Texas A&M for planning to send delegates to a conference with race-based restrictions, prompting the university to reverse its decision.

Texas A&M University initially planned to send representatives to a PhD conference open only to Black, Hispanic, and Native American participants.
Governor Greg Abbott condemned the decision, citing it as a violation of Texas Senate Bill 17, which bans diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives at public universities.
Abbott threatened the job security of Texas A&M President Mark Welsh if the university did not comply with state law.
President Welsh acknowledged the conference's restrictions were inconsistent with state law and announced the university would no longer participate.
The incident highlights ongoing tensions over DEI policies in Texas and their enforcement under recently enacted legislation.