As Texas lawmakers debated banning DEI efforts in public schools on Thursday, federal officials launched a portal encouraging people to report concerns.

Sen. Brandon Creighton has filed bills that would ban diversity, equity and inclusion policies related to hiring and programming, while creating ways for parents to complain about violations to the DEI ban.

At a public event last week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said higher ed would get less funding if they don’t “kick DEI out of their schools,” a few weeks after lawmakers proposed a massive cut to public universities.

The Legislature and lieutenant governor threaten to cut $400 million if colleges and universities do not end diversity initiatives.

The Texas State Senate and House unveiled their proposed 2026-2027 state budgets on Wednesday, neither of which include funding for the higher education institutional enhancement fund which provided the state's universities with $423 million worth of funding in the past two years.