Officials at the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport abruptly have reversed course on plans to provide tax-funded special accommodations for Muslims after the governor warned their grants were under review because such facilities “cannot favor one religion over all others.”
The airport’s official announcement confirmed, “The airport accelerated its review due to elevated public interest this week and has determined not to proceed with the project.”
The project was to be a $300,000 expenditure of tax funds for specialized foot-washing stations for Muslims at the facility.
Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others.
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… pic.twitter.com/XY58WAKJ8N
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 14, 2026
DFW Airport scraps controversial Islamic foot-washing station plan as Texas Gov. Abbott takes aim https://t.co/DqpXz6Domg pic.twitter.com/IziEsEkH9Y
— New York Post (@nypost) August 15, 2026
The Dallas Express reported the plans were “scrapped.”
The stations were scheduled to be in Terminal D, but Gov. Greg Abbott’s intervention triggered the changes.
The report said, “The proposal would have added one ablution station inside an existing men’s restroom and another inside an existing women’s restroom on the pre-security side of Terminal D. DFW said the project would not deliver the operational benefits the airport originally anticipated.”
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a statement that under review were grants and awards to the airport, and he was referring both DFW and George Bush Intercontinental Airport to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation.
And “enforcement.”
“Government-owned airports cannot favor one religion over all others. DFW plans to install Islamic wudu washing facilities are illegal,” he said.
He told airport CEO Christopher McLaughlin that facilities in violation of the law, through so-called “exclusionary religious spaces,” could face loss of funding.
The governor’s other letter was to U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy seeking a review.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport apparently already has such foot-washing stations.
A state filing confirmed the $300,000 project and said it was “privately funded.” The Express said the same project number had been revalued at $115,000 with “public funds.”
A previous report said the plan was for, “adding Ablution stations to existing concourse level restrooms in Terminal D, one Men’s ablution station in existing men’s restroom and one Women’s ablution station in the existing women’s restroom,”
Wudu, or ablution, is an Islamic ritual of purification performed before daily prayers. Wudu stations are specialized plumbing fixtures that feature low-level basins for washing the feet and seating that allows individuals to comfortably wash their hands, face, and arms, the report explained.
Rep. Keith Self warned, “Islamic foot-washing stations are coming soon to DFW. This isn’t accommodation, it’s conquest. And it’s only the beginning. The Sharia takeover happening right before our eyes must be stopped!”
The Daily Signal reported, on the issue, “Last year, Pastor Tom Ascol said he encountered a group of Muslims using the airport chapel while he was waiting for a flight. According to Ascol, an airport announcement invited travelers to a ‘prayer service’ in the chapel. When he arrived at the chapel, he found a group of Muslims had taken over the space with their prayer rugs and Ascol was denied entry.”
