Texas Gov. Greg Abbott requests Justice Department probe of Islamic washing stations at airports

Aug 19, 2026

Texas Governor Greg Abbott on August 21, 2026 requested a Justice Department investigation of ablution facilities at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, arguing the Muslim ritual washing stations constitute discriminatory religious favoritism at government-owned airports receiving federal funding. Abbott compared the facilities to white-only bathrooms and threatened to revoke state grants, claiming they single out one religion for special treatment. Houston Mayor John Whitmire defended the George Bush facility serving 365,000 annual passengers from Middle Eastern airlines as a passenger-responsive accommodation open to all faiths requiring ritual washing, noting the airport also maintains interfaith chapels.

Abbott DOJ referral request

▪Greg Abbott previously referred Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation and threatened state funding.
▪Greg Abbott stated that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport are owned by the government.
▪Greg Abbott directed the state of Texas to conduct a review of grants to entities operating Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport for possible revocation and denial of future funding over plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities.
▪Greg Abbott wrote to U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche that the washing facilities at George Bush Intercontinental Airport are furnished with copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads and a turbah.
▪Greg Abbott called on the Justice Department to review policies at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, noting both airports receive federal funding and are subject to requirements to comply with laws prohibiting discrimination.
▪Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced on August 21, 2026 that he had referred Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston to the Justice Department over the installation of Islamic foot-washing stations.

McKinney Islamic center approval

▪The McKinney City Council voted to approve a new Islamic center.
▪State Rep. Keresa Richardson joined community members expressing concerns over Sharia law during a McKinney City Council meeting about the Islamic center approval.

Religious discrimination claims

▪Greg Abbott stated that the ablution stations single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion and are not interfaith chapels open to all.
▪Greg Abbott wrote that Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and George Bush Intercontinental Airport have used funds charged to the public to finance, maintain, advertise, and operate Muslim-only spaces on property that should be open and accessible to all citizens.
▪Greg Abbott wrote that airports can no more offer Muslim-only bathroom spaces than they can maintain white-only bathrooms.

DFW airport facility details

▪A projected filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation said the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport ablution station plan would have been privately funded with an estimated cost of $300,000.
▪Dallas Fort Worth International Airport officials decided not to move forward with the plan to add ablution washing stations.
▪A Dallas Fort Worth International Airport spokesperson stated that the estimated cost for the ablution station plan was closer to $120,000.
▪Greg Abbott stated that two ablution stations are already in operation at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport despite the airport abandoning plans for a washing station.
▪Dallas Fort Worth International Airport was evaluating a proposal to add ablution washing stations in Terminal D, its international terminal.

Houston airport facility details

▪John Whitmire stated that the ablution room at George Bush Intercontinental Airport also has interfaith chapels and is open to travelers of all faiths and beliefs.
▪Houston Mayor John Whitmire stated that the washing station at George Bush Intercontinental Airport was in response to requests from passengers.
▪John Whitmire stated that the ablution room at George Bush Intercontinental Airport allows Muslim travelers and other travelers whose religion requires ritual washing prior to prayer to do so in this facility.
▪The Mickey Leland International Terminal at George Bush Intercontinental Airport serves around 365,000 passengers annually from Emirates Airlines, Turkish Airlines and Qatar Airways.
▪John Whitmire stated that the ablution room at George Bush Intercontinental Airport leads into a prayer room.

Perspective of Greg Abbott and Texas state government

▪Greg Abbott characterizes the ablution stations as singling out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion rather than serving all citizens equally.
▪Greg Abbott argues that government-owned airports using public funds to maintain Muslim-only spaces is comparable to maintaining white-only bathrooms.