Dallas Fort Worth International Airport has abandoned plans for Islamic foot-washing facilities in Terminal D after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott challenged the proposal, ordered a review of state grants to DFW and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and referred both airports for federal investigation.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Dallas Fort Worth International Airport will not move forward with proposed Islamic ablution washing stations in Terminal D after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott raised legal concerns over religious accommodations at government-owned airports and ordered a review of state funding connected to two major Texas aviation hubs.
The decision followed an accelerated review of the DFW proposal, which had drawn scrutiny over its cost, funding source and whether constructing facilities specifically designed for Islamic ritual washing would amount to preferential treatment based on religion, according to a Fox News report.
Abbott announced Friday that Texas will examine grants awarded to entities operating DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, or IAH, in Houston for possible revocation and could deny future state funding.
He also referred both airports to the U.S. Department of Transportation for review.
“Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others,” Abbott wrote on X. “DFW plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities are illegal. I’ve directed a review of all state grants to both airports for possible revocation, and referred DFW & IAH to USDOT for investigation.
“Texas will not allow illegal religious discrimination at taxpayer-funded facilities.”
Wudu refers to the ritual washing performed by Muslims before prayer.
DFW’s proposed project was registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation on July 31 and originally described as a $300,000 privately funded construction project expected to be completed before the end of the year.
Airport officials subsequently said several details in that filing were incorrect and resulted from mistakes made by DFW’s outside design firm.
DFW said the project had never received final approval and that the $300,000 amount was an early high-end estimate rather than the anticipated final cost.
“While the estimate noted was $300,000, that was a preliminary high estimate, and we expect the project, if it were approved to proceed, would cost closer to $120,000,” a DFW spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital.
Airport officials also said the regulatory filing incorrectly identified the proposed work as privately financed.
“That was an error, and it should have indicated that airport funds would be used to pay for the work like all our projects,” DFW said.
DFW maintains that its operating expenses are not financed through taxpayer dollars. The airport says it relies instead on revenue generated through sources such as parking fees, concessions and other airport operations.
The dispute nevertheless drew Abbott’s attention because DFW is government-owned and because entities receiving state grants must certify that they comply with anti-discrimination laws.
The governor expanded his review beyond DFW after his office said George Bush Intercontinental Airport already operates an ablution facility adjacent to a prayer room.
Abbott sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy requesting that the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration examine religious facilities and accommodations at both DFW and IAH.
“These ablution facilities appear designed to single out one subset of the population for special treatment based on religion. That is illegal,” Abbott said.
“Both airports are government-owned facilities. The federal and state constitutions prohibit government from facilitating this sort of discrimination. Just as the government cannot favor the secular over the sacred, it also cannot favor one religious view over all others.”
Abbott’s office said state grant recipients are required to certify compliance with laws prohibiting discrimination, providing the basis for the governor’s review of funding already awarded to entities associated with the two airports.
The dispute places questions about religious accommodation, equal treatment and government-owned facilities at the center of the controversy.
DFW initially maintained that the proposed facilities remained only under consideration and that the regulatory filing overstated both the project’s cost and its funding arrangements.
By Friday, however, airport officials had decided not to proceed.
The cancellation eliminates the immediate DFW construction dispute but does not end the broader review ordered by Abbott.
State officials will continue examining grants connected to DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport, while Abbott has asked federal transportation authorities to determine whether religious facilities at either airport comply with constitutional and anti-discrimination requirements.
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