On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott initiated a review of funding for the organizations managing the state’s major airports, focused mainly on religious implications. This came after Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) decided not to proceed with plans for Islamic washrooms.
Abbott announced that the state would examine grants for both George Bush Intercontinental Airport in DFW and Houston, potentially revoking funding or denying future support. He also referred both airports to the U.S. Department of Transportation for further investigation.
In a statement on X, Abbott emphasized that “government-owned airports cannot give preferential treatment to one religion over others,” asserting that the proposal for an Islamic Wudu cleaning facility at DFW was illegal. He insisted that the state might consider withdrawing all support for both airports.
“Texas will not tolerate unlawful religious discrimination in taxpayer-funded facilities,” he stated.
DFW responded that it had been evaluating a proposal to add a foot washing station to the international terminal, Terminal D, but that the scrutiny around the plan ramped up due to public interest.
According to DFW, “the airport was in the process of assessing the proposal for the cleaning stations, weighing operational benefits and costs before making a decision.” Ultimately, they concluded that the project would not yield the expected benefits, thus choosing to halt it.
The project had been officially registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on July 31, originally presented as privately funded with an estimated cost of $300,000, aiming for completion by year’s end.
DFW clarified that there was confusion caused by its design firm, which mistakenly labeled the funding as “private” rather than airport funds. After realizing the error, DFW indicated that the actual cost would likely be around $120,000 if it moved forward.
Interestingly, Abbott’s office pointed out that George Bush Intercontinental Airport already hosts an ablution site and a nearby prayer room. He urged an investigation into these facilities, noting that such amenities might be seen as preferential treatment based on religious beliefs, which he claims is against the law.
“Government should not endorse one religious view over another,” Abbott added, underlining the constitutional prohibitions against such discrimination.
State aid recipients are required to align with laws against discriminatory practices. It’s worth mentioning that similar interfaith spaces and ablution facilities are available at other major airports across the U.S., like Chicago O’Hare.
As of now, Fox News Digital has reached out to both the Houston Airport and the U.S. Department of Transportation for further comments.
