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.

McCann wrote in an email later that the cuts broadly are “a direct hit to the thousands of students and families that choose MSU as their path and value the resources and opportunity afforded by a public university.”

“Reducing investment in institutions that deliver this scale of impact undermines the success of our students and risks Michigan’s long-term economic strength,” she wrote.

McCann urged House lawmakers to reconsider the proposed budget and adopt one which “reflects both equity and impact across the state’s higher education system.”

Typically, these proposed budgets do not reflect the final state allocations. Last year, House Republicans initially proposed a 72.6% cut to MSU funding, which would have left only $89.4 million in state funding. The eventual state allocation for the university saw a 2% increase in funding from the previous year. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s budget recommendation, released in February, calls for a 1% increase to MSU’s funding, totaling $337.1 million.

State Rep. Josh Schriver, R-Oxford, has been entangled in the student group Young Americans for Freedom’s probe of the College of Education. Schriver, who attended MSU, didn’t say whether concerns raise by the group were a factor into the House budget proposal, though he said that he has discussed this issue with all of his colleagues and that “they’re well aware of it.”

Schriver added that he is disappointed by the lack of change from MSU since last year’s budget.

“I really want to fund them more, but I'm just not seeing the results that I need to see in order to put my weight behind that,” he said.

The proposed budget has been approved by the Michigan House Appropriations Subcommittee on Higher Education and Community Colleges. The bill will now move to be considered in the full House Appropriations Committee.