Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison
Trump’s Plan to Reopen Alcatraz Gets $152m Budget Request
In his 2027 fiscal year budget, US President Donald Trump has proposed allocating $152 million to restore Alcatraz as a secure prison facility. The historic site, situated near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, is commonly referred to as “The Rock.” Once considered one of the United States’ most feared prisons, it has since become a popular tourist destination. The funding would cover the initial phase of the project, aiming to transform the location into a modern correctional center.
The proposal has sparked debate among California lawmakers. Several critics have questioned the project’s financial viability, citing concerns over construction costs and logistical challenges. Alcatraz, which was decommissioned in 1963, is now managed by the National Park Service. Its closure was attributed to high operational expenses, as reported by the Bureau of Prisons, which noted that running the facility cost three times more than other federal prisons at the time.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has dismissed the plan as “absurd on its face and should be rejected outright.” In a statement, she argued that converting Alcatraz back into a prison would represent a “stupid notion” and squander taxpayer money. “It would be nothing more than an insult to the intelligence of the American people,” she added. Other local officials have echoed this concern, warning that the project could jeopardize the island’s status as an iconic 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.”
Despite the skepticism, the plan is part of a larger $1.7 billion investment in the Bureau of Prisons. Trump announced the initiative on his social media platform, Truth Social, emphasizing that the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security would collaborate to expand and rebuild the facility. The goal, he stated, is to house the nation’s most dangerous criminals in a “substantially enlarged” version of the prison.
Alcatraz’s legacy as a prison dates back to its origins as a naval defense fort. It transitioned to a military prison before becoming a federal correctional institution in the 1930s. Notable inmates include gangsters like Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. The site has also appeared in several films, including 1962’s Birdman of Alcatraz, 1979’s Escape from Alcatraz, and 1996’s The Rock, starring Sean Connery and Nicolas Cage.
