AUSTIN — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a review of state grants awarded to entities operating airports in Texas, including Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, over what he called possible religious discrimination involving facilities for Muslim travelers.
Abbott announced the review Friday and also asked the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration to investigate the facilities at both airports. The review could lead to the revocation of active state grants and the denial of future state funding, according to the governor’s office.
The governor’s action follows reports that DFW planned to install ablution facilities for Muslim travelers to perform wudu, a ritual washing performed before prayer. Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport already has an ablution facility connected to a prayer room. Abbott said the Houston facility includes Qurans, prayer rugs, prayer beads and a turbah, a small tablet used in some Islamic prayer practices.
Abbott argued that the facilities give preferential treatment to one religious group at government-owned airports.
“These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion,” Abbott said.
He asked federal transportation officials to review the airports’ religious facilities and take what he called appropriate corrective action. The governor cited constitutional protections against government religious discrimination and conditions attached to federal airport funding.
DFW officials, meanwhile, said Friday that the airport will not proceed with the proposed ablution stations. The airport had been evaluating the project but accelerated its review after public attention and determined that it would not provide the anticipated operational benefits.
It remains unclear whether DFW’s decision will affect Abbott’s state and federal reviews.
The governor’s review will also examine state grants issued to other airport operators across Texas, according to his office.
