Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
Trump seeks $152m to reopen iconic Alcatraz prison
Donald Trump, the U.S. president, has proposed a $152 million budget for the 2027 fiscal year, including funds to restore Alcatraz to its former role as a high-security prison. The site, known as The Rock, is situated close to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge and once stood as one of the country’s most infamous detention centers. While it has since become a popular tourist destination, the plan aims to transform it back into a functioning correctional facility, with initial costs covered by the allocated funds.
Several California lawmakers have expressed doubt about the project, questioning its financial viability and operational challenges. The maximum security prison was shuttered in 1963, and its current management by the National Park Service generates $60 million in annual revenue. Critics argue that converting the site into a prison would not only cost more than maintaining it as a tourist spot but also risk its status as a historical landmark.
“Rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern prison is a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to the intelligence of the American people,” said Nancy Pelosi, former U.S. House speaker.
Trump’s proposal includes a $1.7 billion investment in the Bureau of Prisons, with the Alcatraz initiative forming part of that total. The plan, announced on Truth Social last year, envisions the prison being operated by the Bureau of Prisons in collaboration with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security. The goal is to house the nation’s most dangerous criminals, according to the administration.
Alcatraz originally served as a naval fortress before transitioning to a military prison and eventually becoming a federal facility in the 1930s. Notable figures imprisoned there include Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The site has also appeared in several films, such as “Escape from Alcatraz” (1979) starring Clint Eastwood and “The Rock” (1996) featuring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
Previous concerns about the island’s logistical hurdles—such as the lack of running water and reliance on boat deliveries for supplies—have been raised by critics. The Bureau of Prisons reported that operating costs at Alcatraz had surpassed those of other federal facilities by threefold by the time it closed. Despite these challenges, Trump’s vision for the prison’s revival has sparked debate about its practicality and public value.
