"UT-Austin Implements Staff Cuts in Response to Texas DEI Ban"

The University of Texas at Austin is laying off dozens of employees who previously worked in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) roles in response to a state law that banned such programs, with at least 40 affected by the closure of the Division of Campus and Community Engagement. Critics argue that the terminations are retaliatory and may have a disproportionate impact on people of color and the LGBTQ community, while proponents of the law claim it enforces ideological conformity and reduces bureaucracy. The layoffs come amid a broader national debate over DEI initiatives in higher education, with at least 82 bills attacking DEI filed in more than 20 states since 2023.