Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has ordered an investigation into Islamic washing facilities at two of the state’s largest airports, warning that the installations could violate constitutional prohibitions on religious discrimination.
In a statement, Abbott directed a review of state funding for airports across Texas, with a focus on ablution stations—foot-washing areas used by Muslims to perform wudu, the ritual cleansing before prayer—at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) in Houston.
“These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion. That is illegal,” Abbott said.
The governor’s office said the review could lead to the revocation of existing state grants and the denial of future funding to airport operators, including DFW and IAH. Abbott also asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate both airports for possible religious discrimination, specifically requesting Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to have the department and the Federal Aviation Administration review the facilities and take corrective action if necessary.
DFW is still considering whether to install the separate foot-washing stations for men and women, with an estimated cost of $300,000 and a projected start date of August 31. The project was initially listed as privately funded in a filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, but the airport later said that was an error.
In an email to the Dallas Express, DFW said an outside design firm mistakenly selected “non-publicly funded” when submitting the project for state review. The airport told the outlet that the project would be paid for with airport funds, adding, “That was an error and it should have indicated that airport funds would be used. We are putting in firm erroneously selected no dollars for its operation. To prevent that kind of error in the future.”
IAH, meanwhile, already operates an ablution facility connected to a prayer room.
Abbott argued that because both airports are government-owned, they are bound by constitutional restrictions on religious favoritism. “The federal and state constitutions prohibit government from facilitating this sort of discrimination,” he said.
Both airports receive federal funding and are required to comply with federal laws barring religious discrimination, according to the governor’s office.
The move drew quick support from some social media users, with several calling for similar scrutiny of other airports across the country. Critics, however, may question whether providing foot-washing stations for Muslim travelers constitutes illegal discrimination or simply an accommodation of religious practice—a legal gray area that courts have frequently wrestled with.
The investigation marks the latest front in Abbott’s broader efforts to push back against what he describes as religiously based special treatment in public institutions. The governor has not indicated a timeline for the review’s completion.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/08/14/texas-gov-abbott-orders-investigation-muslim-facilities-state-airport/