Abbott Orders Probe of DFW Muslim Prayer Rooms

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a state investigation into ablution facilities planned for Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, arguing in a letter that the Islamic foot-washing stations amount to unconstitutional religious favoritism at a government-owned facility.

In an Aug. 14 letter to DFW Airport CEO Christopher McLaughlin, Abbott said he had referred both DFW and Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation. Houston's airport installed a wudu washing facility and adjoining prayer room in 2024 stocked with copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads and a turbah, according to the letter.

Abbott wrote that the facilities single out one religious group for accommodations not extended to other faiths represented in Texas, and that both the U.S. and Texas constitutions bar government entities from favoring one religion over others.

"Unlike nondenominational interfaith chapels, these ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion," Abbott wrote.

The governor argued that because both airports are government-owned and receive federal funding, they are bound by federal anti-discrimination requirements enforced through the Federal Aviation Administration's Airport Compliance Program.

He cited legal precedent holding that governments cannot use private organizations as a "subterfuge" for discrimination, and pointed to past state action against using city property to promote a Muslim-only event.

Abbott said his office is reviewing state grants awarded to local governments connected to the airports and could revoke past funding or cancel future disbursements.

 

Grant recipients are typically required to certify compliance with anti-discrimination laws, he wrote, and any entity found in violation would face funding withdrawal and other enforcement measures.

"Any development, provision, or continued operation of such exclusionary religious spaces in government-owned facilities violates state and federal law and the terms of any grant agreements between the State of Texas and your organizations," Abbott wrote.

DFW Airport is jointly owned by the cities of Dallas and Fort Worth. Abbott copied Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire on the letter.

The letter follows earlier actions by Abbott's office addressing discrimination claims, including a January executive order on race-based discrimination and a May letter to the city of Grand Prairie regarding religious favoritism, both cited as precedent in Thursday's letter.

Solange Reyner ✉

Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.

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