G OVERNOR G REG ABBOTT
April 5, 2020
The Honorable Clay L. Jenkins
County Judge
Dallas County
411 Elm Street
Dallas, Texas 75202
Judge Jenkins:
I have been informed that you suggested to the Department of Defense—or other federal
officials—that you would not be utilizing the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for
hospital and healthcare use as has been provided by the federal government (Department of
Defense, US Health and Human Services, FEMA, and the US Army Corp of Engineers), and the
Texas National Guard in coordination with Governor Abbott.
I have also been informed that your decision is at odds with the needs and concerns articulated
by Mayor Eric Johnson—as well as the needs of other local officials in the Dallas County area.
Additionally, I have been informed by federal government officials that if you cannot make clear
the acceptance of these facilities by 5:00 on Monday, April 6th, the federal government may be
forced to relocate these healthcare facilities to other regions.
As you know, this potential closure of Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center for hospital and
healthcare use would come just before the anticipated spike in healthcare needs in the Dallas area
that are connected to COVID-19. If the KBH Convention Center facility is moved at this time, it
may be impossible to obtain any other federal-provided hospital expansion facility in Dallas
County before the spike in COVID-19 positive cases.
Other jurisdictions need quick access to the facilities currently set up in Dallas. If I don’t hear
from you by tomorrow, the process may quickly begin to move this additional hospital capacity
away from Dallas.
Sincerely,

Luis Saenz
Chief of Staff
Office of the Governor
POST OFFICE BOX 12428 AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711 512-463-2000 (VOICE) DIAL 7-1-1 FOR RELAY SERVICES