Texas Cyber Command, Gov. Greg Abbott’s cybersecurity department, was established after he signed it into law through House Bill 150 in June. It launched on Oct. 21 at UT San Antonio’s Downtown Campus. The organization, created to defend Texas against cyber threats, will partner with the university’s National Security Collaboration Center to conduct its work. UT San Antonio’s leading cyber department will be an asset to the organization, but university resources should focus on student improvement rather than advancing government agendas.
TXCC is funded by a $135 million investment, which is more than enough to get the organization started. Despite this, UT San Antonio is prepared to sacrifice materials and currently funded facilities to further aid the department’s development.
UT San Antonio President Taylor Eighmy said, “UT San Antonio stands ready to contribute subject matter expertise and state-of-the-art facilities to help build a robust cyber defense infrastructure for our state of Texas.” Putting university assets at the state’s disposal distracts from pressing matters that Eighmy should prioritize.
University funds need to be primarily directed towards students, not state initiatives. First and foremost, prioritizing parking and construction will drastically improve the student experience at UT San Antonio.
The severe lack of parking for campus commuters leaves students searching for an open spot for far too long, sometimes having to park off campus. University expansion has seen new buildings and growing campuses, but no parking expansions to satisfy the growing demand of students, as the fall 2025 semester broke the record for enrollment. Funding needs to be allocated toward constructing new lots for student commuters.
Creation of other facilities should also be a priority for UT San Antonio. The university is currently undergoing various expansion projects, such as the $131 million San Pedro II building at the Downtown Campus and $100 million Center for Brain Health for UT Health San Antonio. Expanding university dealings further in cooperation with the state can divert attention from these student-focused initiatives, offering resources to TXCC instead of student-benefiting improvements.
In addition to these projects, the university has lost over $8 million in research grants due to its unchanging diversity, equity and inclusion policies. In an era when diversity is punished and inclusive programs are shunned by the government, UT San Antonio — a Hispanic Serving Institution — needs to pour extra resources and effort into supporting its minority students through aiding research programs and providing scholarships.
While it is unclear the extent of money and student involvement that will be dedicated to TXCC, it will distract from matters that most necessitate Eighmy’s attention. The generous funding that Abbott approved will be enough for TXCC to function without impeding on university proceedings. UT San Antonio should step back and reevaluate its priorities to put students at the top.
