Texas Gov. Abbott Orders Review of Airport Grants After DFW Scraps Islamic Washing Facility Plan

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday initiated a state-level review of grants awarded to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, citing concerns over religious accommodations at taxpayer-funded facilities. The governor’s action came as DFW announced it would abandon a proposal to install Islamic ablution washing stations in its international terminal.

Abbott directed his office to examine potential revocation of existing state grants to both airports and to block future funding. The governor also referred DFW and Houston’s airport authority to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration for federal investigation into their religious facilities and accommodations.

In a statement posted Friday, Abbott argued that government-owned airports cannot provide preferential treatment to one religion over others. “These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion. That is illegal,” Abbott said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy.

DFW said it had been evaluating the proposal to add ablution washing stations on the pre-security side of Terminal D, its international terminal. The airport accelerated its review following public attention and determined the project would not deliver operational benefits, according to a statement to Fox News Digital.

The project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on July 31 with a preliminary cost estimate of $300,000, though DFW later said the actual cost would be closer to $120,000. The airport attributed the initial filing details to administrative errors by its outside design firm.

DFW emphasized it does not use taxpayer dollars for airport operations, instead relying on revenue from parking and concessions. Abbott’s office noted that George Bush Intercontinental Airport already operates an ablution facility with an adjoining prayer room.

Abbott contended that both federal and state constitutions prohibit government entities from facilitating religious discrimination. Similar ablution facilities and interfaith spaces operate at major U.S. airports including Chicago O’Hare, according to reports.