Governor Greg Abbott has issued a directive to the Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) concerning the planned use of public school facilities for the 2026 Houston Islamic Games. The event is sponsored by the New Jersey Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR NJ).
“It has come to my attention that Bridgeland High School intends to offer public school facilities to host the 2026 Houston Islamic Games,” Abbott stated in his letter. “Be aware I recently designated ‘the Muslim Brotherhood and its successor organization CAIR’ as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under state law. You cannot invite such dangers through the front doors of our schools. Texans deserve immediate action to curb the spread of Islamic extremism, and public facilities funded by their tax dollars will not be utilized to host terrorist related groups.”
The Governor instructed CFISD to immediately preserve all records and communications related to this event. He further directed that CFISD confirm with his office within seven days that any negotiations or agreements regarding the event have been terminated. If CFISD does not comply, Abbott said he would order the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to seize relevant communications involving district employees about CAIR, efforts to conceal CAIR’s involvement, or agreements and financial statements associated with the proposed event. TEA would then refer its findings to the Texas Attorney General for possible legal action.
Abbott’s actions are part of a broader effort by his administration aimed at addressing concerns related to CAIR and similar organizations. His initiatives include requesting U.S. Secretary Bessent suspend CAIR’s tax-exempt status, directing state police investigations into both CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood, officially designating these groups as foreign terrorist organizations under state law, and ordering investigations into Sharia Courts.
As governor, Abbott leads Texas’ executive branch with responsibilities that include economic development, education policy, border security efforts, and support for community programs across Texas (https://gov.texas.gov/).
