DFW Airport scraps controversial Islamic foot-washing station plan as Texas Gov. Abbott takes aim

Dallas Fort Worth International Airport dropped a proposed project to install Islamic ablution washing stations after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott publicly objected and ordered a review of state funding to the airport. Abbott also directed the same funding review for George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, which already has an ablution station and adjoining prayer room, and referred both airports to the U.S. Department of Transportation for investigation. DFW said it had been evaluating an internal proposal for washing stations in its international terminal but accelerated the review due to increased public attention and decided not to proceed. The airport also clarified that an earlier regulatory filing listing the project as privately funded and estimating its cost at $300,000 contained errors made by an outside design firm, and that airport funds, not taxpayer dollars, would have paid for the roughly $120,000 project.