Updated with response from Cy-Fair ISD
Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District to terminate any negotiations to host the 2026 Houston Islamic Games after the event was promoted as being sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Following Abbott’s warning, the Islamic Games website now lists the location of the Houston-area event as “TBD”, rather than identifying a specific Cy-Fair ISD campus.
In a letter sent Wednesday to Cy-Fair ISD Board President Julie Hinaman and Superintendent Douglas Killian, Abbott warned the district that it may not use taxpayer-funded school facilities to host an event connected to an organization he recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
“It has come to my attention that Bridgeland High School intends to offer public school facilities to host the 2026 Houston Islamic Games in October,” Abbott wrote. “Be aware I recently designated ‘the Muslim Brotherhood and its successor organization CAIR’ as foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations under state law.”
Abbott directed Cy-Fair ISD to preserve all records and communications related to the proposed Islamic Games and confirm with his office within seven days that any negotiations or agreements have been terminated.
“If you fail to do so, I will direct the Texas Education Agency to immediately seize and uncover any communications district employees may have regarding CAIR, any attempts to conceal CAIR’s involvement, and any agreements or financial statements related to the proposed event,” Abbott wrote.
Abbott added that TEA would then refer its findings to Attorney General Ken Paxton “with the expectation that his office will pursue legal actions,” including injunctions to stop public school districts from hosting events sponsored by organizations designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
Cy-Fair ISD pushed back in a press release Wednesday evening, saying the district is not “hosting” the 2026 Houston Islamic Games and that it had not received Abbott’s letter directly. The district said it was instead notified of the letter through the governor’s press release, which it described as “a disappointing gesture instead of an earnest attempt to obtain facts.”
The district argued that under its facility use policy, it allows limited non-school use of district facilities by the community and does not distinguish between religions or viewpoints in applying its guidelines.
Cy-Fair ISD also said there are currently no facility use agreements in place for the 2026–27 school year because outside groups are not permitted to reserve space for the following school year until Aug. 1.
The district also noted it previously entered into a facility use agreement with the Islamic Games of North America for an event held in September 2025.
Earlier this week, Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District leaders severed negotiations for a similar Islamic Games event after citizens and elected officials raised concerns about CAIR’s involvement.
The Islamic Games, an athletic event for Islamic youth, had been slated to take place at Colleyville Heritage High School in May. GCISD said it rejected the request after determining state law prohibits governmental entities from entering contracts with companies identified as foreign terrorist organizations.
“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,” Abbott stated.
CAIR pushed back on Abbott’s claims, disputing that it was sponsoring the event this year and accusing the governor of targeting Muslim families.
“By placing Muslim children at the center of his campaign of hate, Governor Abbott is crossing every line of basic decency and digging himself a deeper legal hole. He is the governor of Texas, not the emperor of Texas, and we look forward to reminding him of that in a court of law. God willing,” the group said in a statement.
