Chicago – August 16, 2026
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has accused two state airports of illegal religious discrimination over facilities that allow Muslim travelers to perform ritual foot washing before prayer.
Abbott said Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport were giving preferential treatment to Muslims by providing ablution, or wudu, facilities. He directed state officials to review grants to both airports and asked the U.S. Department of Transportation to investigate.
DFW had been considering installing additional washing stations in Terminal D, its international terminal. The airport said Friday that it had accelerated its review following public attention and decided not to proceed, citing limited operational benefits.
Abbott argued that government-owned airports should not favor one religion over another and described the proposed facilities as “illegal.” Houston’s airport already has an ablution facility and prayer room.
The controversy has sparked a wider debate over religious accommodation, government neutrality and the rights of Muslim travelers at publicly owned facilities.
