Some five dozen diversity staffers within the University of Texas system were dismissed from their positions in response to a new state law prohibiting diversity, equity, and inclusion offices.

Texas lawmakers passed legislation last summer forbidding institutions of higher education from creating an office that influences “hiring or employment practices” with respect to race or sex, or providing individuals in certain identity groups with differential treatment or special benefits. Shortly after members of the Texas Senate Education Committee warned schools to comply with the new law, the University of Texas dismissed at least sixty employees and announced the closure of their Division of Campus and Community Engagement.

University of Texas at Austin President Jay Hartzell wrote in a message to the school that the reduced scale of the diversity office does not “justify a stand-alone division,” while funding previously used for diversity efforts will be “redeployed to support teaching and research.” He added that dismissed employees could apply for other positions at the school.

“It is important that we respect the perspectives and experiences of our fellow Longhorns as the changes we are announcing today take effect,” Hartzell wrote in the message. “It is also important that this continues to be a welcoming, supportive community for all.”

Texas Senate Education Committee Chairman Brandon Creighton had indeed written to public university systems last month that they are expected to ensure a “merit-based environment where every student, faculty, and staff member can strive for and achieve personal excellence.” His letters said they must shutter their diversity offices, as well as guarantee that diversity training and diversity statements would not be forced on students and faculty, noting that the schools could face frozen funding and other sanctions for noncompliance.

Several states have advanced policies in recent years to stop their public education systems from funding prejudice under the guise of diversity programs. Florida also cracked down on their state university system using taxpayer funds to “administer programs that categorize individuals based on race or sex for the purpose of differential or preferential treatment.”