UT Austin administrator says lobbyists got lawmakers to ‘water down’ DEI bill
May 18, 2026
A faculty member at the University of Texas at Austin revealed how universities got Texas lawmakers to “water down” its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion ban.
According to Jackie/Jennifer Salcedo, a senior academic program coordinator in the Department of Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) “was at the capitol every day.”
“So the AAUP managed to get them to water down the language substantially,” she revealed to Accuracy in Media’s undercover journalist on hidden camera.
In fact, she said the law does nothing to change how UT Austin includes DEI concepts in its courses except for “create more work for the staff on the back end.”
As for President Trump’s anti-DEI executive orders, a student in the department claimed the university doesn’t “have to comply with that.”
“They’re very hard to enforce. Yea, they’re not enforceable. The president’s just saying things for the most part. And even him like directing an agency to do X, Y, or Z is not… yeah it’s not law,” the unnamed student said.
Both Salcedo and the student explained to AIM’s journalist that those enrolling at the university are still receiving DEI education and if they enroll in a program that includes it, they will be permitted to complete the program–DEI included.
“Yeah they can’t shut down programs,” Salcedo said. “I mean they could say starting in this catalog this won’t be available but like they’re going to let people graduate.”
Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, signed Texas bill 37, which significantly strengthens state restrictions on DEI teachings in public education.
It also created a state committee to make recommendations for core required courses.
University system boards of regents are also required to create curriculum review committees, which can reject courses that are ideologically-driven.
The Trump administration has also cracked down on DEI, issuing multiple executive orders tackling indoctrination at public universities and those that rely on federal funds.
AIM is making sure Texas universities are complying with the new law, and if they don’t–we’re exposing it to taxpayers.
Go to DEIInTexas.com now to send one convenient message to all relevant trustees. Let them know taxpayers won’t sit idly by while schools defy the law to keep pushing woke ideology.