Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered state officials to investigate Houston based Texas Southern University’s finances after an audit revealed widespread accounting and contracting irregularities involving hundreds of millions of dollars.
The Texas Department of Public Safety and the state comptroller’s office will oversee separate probes into the historically Black university’s financial practices. The announcement came after a preliminary audit from the Texas State Auditor’s Office found that TSU processed more than 743 invoices worth about $282 million for vendors whose contracts had already expired.
Auditors also flagged more than 8,100 invoices totaling $158 million that were dated before official purchase requisitions were approved. The report cited weak oversight of assets, outdated tracking systems, and recurring delays in filing required financial reports.
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday he plans to work with Abbott and House leaders to consider freezing state funding for the Houston-based university until the issues are addressed. “This is taxpayer money,” Patrick said. “We have a responsibility to ensure accountability and transparency at every public institution.”
TSU leaders said they are cooperating fully with investigators and have already taken steps to strengthen internal controls, including implementing a new procurement system.
Founded in 1927, Texas Southern University is one of the nation’s largest historically Black universities and the only independent public university in Texas.
The full audit report has not yet been released, and it remains unclear whether any funds were misused or whether the findings point primarily to procedural lapses. State officials said the probes could lead to administrative or criminal actions, depending on what investigators uncover.