A video of a Texas State University bus transporting protesters opposing President Donald Trump, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) ignited a firestorm on social media. The video, shared by Texas State Rep Brian Harrison,  showed individuals boarding a bus with the university’s logo, prompting questions about the misuse of taxpayer funds.

The protests, part of a broader movement against Musk’s role in DOGE—a Trump administration initiative to slash government spending—have targeted Tesla dealerships across the U.S. and Europe, reflecting public discontent with Musk’s influence and the agency’s drastic cuts.

Brian Harrison, a former U.S. Department of Health and Human Services chief of staff and Texas House candidate, amplified the controversy with a pointed post on X: “Texas taxpayers… that’s who pays for those busses. Madness! The Texas government needs to grow a backbone and defund all government agencies and public universities engaged in leftist propaganda. Instead, the House budget INCREASES funding for them. Texans deserve better!”

Harrison’s statement reflects a growing conservative push to curb perceived ideological bias in public institutions. This sentiment aligns with recent legislative efforts, such as Senate Bill 37, which aims to expand university governing boards oversight of curricula and hiring to “address the unchecked authority of faculty,” as lawmakers stated during a meeting in late March 2025.

The backlash underscores broader tensions in Texas over public funding and political activism. Critics, including Harrison, argue that taxpayer dollars should not support protests, especially those targeting Trump and Musk. As the debate rages, many Texans are calling for accountability, with some demanding the immediate dismissal of those who authorized the buses’ use for protest activities.

Yet a larger question looms: if not just Texas taxpayers, who else might be funding these protests, and are federal dollars also at play?