In a controversial move, the majority-white legislature of Tennessee has removed all 10 board members at Tennessee State University (TSU), the state's only publicly funded historically Black university. The decision, signed into legislation by Republican Governor Bill Lee, has drawn strong criticism from Democrats.

The legislation approved by the GOP-controlled House appoints eight new board members, mostly from the business sector, to replace the ousted members. Governor Lee expressed his satisfaction with the appointment of these "highly qualified individuals" who will contribute to TSU's development as a leading educational institution. However, these nominees still require confirmation by the legislature.

The overhaul of the TSU board was triggered by longstanding Republican complaints of financial mismanagement and a critical state audit. While a recent external audit did not find evidence of fraud or malfeasance, it did highlight "questionable spending" and "significant procedural deficiencies." Democrats argue that the university's financial struggles are a result of the state's failure to adequately fund TSU, as a federal government assessment in 2023 estimated that the university was underfunded by $2.1 billion over the last three decades.

During the legislative session, Democratic Representatives voiced their opposition to the removal of the TSU board. Rep. Justin Pearson, one of the Black Tennessee representatives expelled by the GOP majority last year for protesting gun violence, criticized the decision, claiming it was an attempt to avoid rectifying the problems caused by racist policies and underfunding. The optics of wiping out the board of an historically Black university were described as "horrendous" by one Democrat.

TSU students who attended the legislative session were also vocal in their disagreement, cheering for Democrats who criticized their Republican colleagues and booing when the bill was passed. Despite efforts by Democrats to reduce the number of board members to be removed or delay the vote, their attempts were consistently rejected by the Republican supermajority.

With the controversy surrounding the removal of the TSU board, attention is now focused on the confirmation process for the new nominees. The aftermath of this decision will shape the future of Tennessee State University and its ongoing fight for adequate funding and fair representation.