Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Friday that proposed Islamic foot washing stations at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and an existing facility at Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport violate the Constitution by providing special treatment to one religious group.

Abbott directed a review of all state grants to both airports for possible revocation and referred the matter to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation. He stated that government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over others.

DFW Airport has since abandoned plans to install additional ablution stations in Terminal D after the governor's intervention accelerated its internal review. The airport cited increased public attention as a factor in its decision.

The existing station at IAH includes an adjacent prayer room equipped with copies of the Quran, prayer rugs, prayer beads, and a turbah. Abbott indicated that similar accommodations at taxpayer-funded facilities amount to illegal religious discrimination and signaled intent to pursue removal of the IAH installation.

Abbott emphasized that Texas will not permit such practices at facilities receiving public funds. The governor's actions align with efforts to enforce equal treatment under the law without preferences for any faith group.

Both airports receive federal funding and must comply with prohibitions on religious discrimination. The USDOT referral seeks appropriate corrective measures to address the accommodations.

No other religious groups have received comparable dedicated facilities at these airports, according to reports on the controversy.