COLLEGE STATION, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday threatened to remove Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III from his job after a post on X claimed that the school is “sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending.”


What You Need To Know

  • Texas Gov. Greg Abbott threatened to remove Texas A&M President Mark A. Welsh III following a social media post

  • The post claims the university is “sponsoring a trip to a DEI conference that prohibits whites and Asians from attending”

  • Abbott said the university is violating Texas law

  • Welsh responded to Abbott on X, stating that “Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor"

Abbott wrote, “Hell, no. It’s against Texas law and violates the US Constitution. It will be fixed immediately or the president will soon be gone.”

The event referenced is The PhD’s Project’s Annual Conference, set for March 20-21 in Chicago.

According to The PhD Project’s website, the conference is the group’s flagship event and offers prospective doctoral students “a realistic look at every phase of the PhD journey, as well as an opportunity to network with current doctoral students, university representatives, college professors and PhD Project partners.”

Importantly, The PhD Project notes that the conference is “designed for historically underrepresented individuals considering business doctoral studies.”

To be eligible for registration, students must identify as Black, African American, Latinx, Hispanic American, Native American or Canadian Indigenous, The PhD Project’s websites states.

An email to students states the Texas A&M’s Office of General Counsel was consulted concerning compliance with Texas’ Senate Bill 17, which prohibits colleges and universities from engaging in specified diversity, equity and inclusion activities.

“Supporting The PhD Project is permissible under recruitment exemptions in SB 17, as the project’s outward focus means it is not considered ‘outsourcing’ of university DEI functions,” the email states.

Welsh responded to Abbott in a statement posted to Texas A&M’s X account:

“Texas A&M does not support any organization, conference, process or activity that excludes people based on race, creed, gender, age or any other discriminating factor. The intent of SB-17 is very clear in that regard. We will continue to honor both the letter and the intent of the law.”