Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Friday that he has referred the “discriminatory” religious facilities at two of the state’s largest airports to the U.S. Department of Justice. The request follows Abbott’s earlier directive for a state review of grants to Dallas‑Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston (IAH) over plans to install Islamic wudu washing stations in airport bathrooms.
Governor’s concerns
In a statement, Abbott said the wudu stations “single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion” and are not interfaith chapels open to all travelers. He emphasized that government‑owned airports, which receive federal funding, must comply with laws that prohibit discrimination and protect the rights of every American.
Abbott wrote to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche, noting that the IAH facility includes “copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads and a turbah.” He argued that using public funds to maintain spaces that serve only Muslim travelers is comparable to the unconstitutional idea of “white‑only” bathrooms.
Airport responses
DFW officials had been evaluating a proposal to add wudu stations in Terminal D’s international concourse. After public scrutiny, the airport decided not to move forward with the plan. However, Abbott said two such stations are already operating at DFW.
At IAH, Houston Mayor John Whitmire said the wudu room was created in response to passenger requests, particularly from airlines such as Emirates, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways, which collectively serve about 365,000 passengers annually through the Mickey Leland International Terminal. Whitmire described the space as a “ablution room” that allows Muslim travelers, and others whose faith requires ritual washing before prayer, to perform their rites. He added that the room leads into a prayer area and that interfaith chapels are also available, making the facility open to travelers of all faiths.
Funding and legal context
Abbott’s earlier review of airport grants estimated the cost of the proposed DFW stations at $300,000, though an airport spokesperson later suggested the figure was closer to $120,000 and that the project would be privately funded. The governor maintains that any use of public money for religion‑specific spaces violates the Constitution’s Establishment Clause and the federal nondiscrimination requirements tied to airport funding.
The Justice Department has authority to investigate whether the airports’ actions breach federal law. Abbott urged the department to act quickly to stop what he called “discriminatory practices” that give preferential treatment to one religion over others.
Public reaction
The issue has drawn attention from both faith‑based groups and civil‑rights advocates. Supporters of the wudu stations argue that they provide a necessary accommodation for Muslim travelers who otherwise would have to use public restroom sinks for ritual washing. Critics, including the governor, contend that creating religion‑specific facilities in publicly funded spaces sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the principle of equal treatment under the law.
Fox News Digital has reached out to both airports for comment. The outcome of the DOJ review could set a precedent for how religious accommodations are handled in other federally funded facilities across the nation.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
