State House Republicans are looking to slash 62% of state funding for Michigan State University.
During a press conference Thursday announcing the House’s proposed state budget for the upcoming fiscal year, House Speaker Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, said MSU has been “losing their way, losing focus of their core mission.” The proposal seeks to reduce state appropriations to the university by $208.8 million compared to the current fiscal year, in which MSU received $333.7 million.
The proposal follows several episodes over the past year in which state Republicans have scrutinized the university. In October, they argued that a College of Education course taught material that was discriminatory towards white students. That controversy subsequently spawned a public records request submitted by a conservative student group in March seeking to uncover evidence of ideological mandates within the college. That effort has been supported by a second-term state lawmaker who promises to bring its findings to the capitol come budget negotiation season.
On Thursday, Hall focused his energy toward Rx Kids, a prenatal and infant cash subscription program administered by MSU. Hall referred to the program as a “complete scam which is giving welfare to illegal aliens.”
Hall added that “a lot of people” spend the money provided by Rx Kids on drugs and alcohol. He said there are already state programs that provide needy families with financial support, and which have eligibility requirements and stipulations as to what the disbursed funds can be used for.
While those programs “guarantee the tax dollars we are investing and helping people in need go to approved uses that will help mothers,” Hall claimed, Rx Kids provides money which they can spend on “whatever they want.”
In October, the state committed $270 million to the MSU-administered program.
University Spokesperson Amber McCann said the university strictly administers the program, and that MSU is required to spend all the money the state gives it to run the Rx Kids program.
“Michigan State University does not have discretion over spending that money,” she said. “The state appropriated the money specifically for our Rx Kids, and we have to take that money and administer the program.”
McCann also noted that Hall voted in support of last year's state allocation for Rx Kids in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget.
