Greg Abbott and other state leaders have criticized Austin officials' decision to cut police department funding. Greg Abbott is considering a legislative proposal that, if passed, would put the control of the Austin Police Department under state authority. Texas governor tweeted Thursday that he was looking at a strategy that would stop major city officials efforts to shift resources away from police departments and into other social services. Austin became the first Texas city to approve cutting its police budget last month as calls rise to defund police during a revived movement against police brutality and racial injustice. This proposal for the state to takeover the Austin Police Department is one strategy I'm looking at, Abbott tweeted.