AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has directed a review of state grants awarded to entities operating airports across Texas following concerns over religious accommodations at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH).
Abbott has also referred DFW and IAH to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation and enforcement.
The action follows plans at DFW to install ablution facilities, which are used by Muslims for ritual washing before prayer. IAH already has an ablution facility and an adjoining prayer room.
In a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Abbott requested that the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration immediately review religious facilities and accommodations at both airports.
Abbott said government-owned airports must comply with laws prohibiting religious discrimination and questioned whether providing dedicated facilities for Islamic religious practices could amount to preferential treatment based on religion.
“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 the announcement.
The governor’s office said the review could lead to the revocation of active state grant funds or the denial of future grants if violations are established.
The issue has drawn attention to the balance between religious accommodation and government neutrality. Muslim travelers use ablution facilities to perform ritual washing before prayer, while airport authorities have described such spaces as accommodations for passengers and travelers with religious needs.
The federal review requested by Abbott is expected to determine whether the facilities and related airport funding arrangements comply with applicable laws and grant requirements.
The governor’s announcement does not itself constitute a court ruling that the airport facilities are unlawful. Any final determination regarding federal compliance will rest with the appropriate authorities.
