President Donald Trump is seeking $152 million to begin rebuilding Alcatraz Island into an active federal prison, according to a budget proposal released for the 2027 fiscal year. The funding request aims to cover the first-year costs of transforming the historic site into 'a state-of-the-art secure prison facility,' as reported by The Guardian and Reuters. Trump initially called for the reopening of Alcatraz last May, directing the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, and other agencies to undertake the project.
Key Takeaways
President Donald Trump is seeking $152 million to begin rebuilding Alcatraz Island into an active federal prison as part of the 2027 fiscal year budget proposal. The funding would cover initial costs for transforming the historic site into a 'state-of-the-art secure prison facility.'
- President Trump seeks $152M to reopen Alcatraz as a modern prison
- Funding included in 2027 fiscal year budget request
- California officials criticize plan as costly and wasteful
- Alcatraz closed in 1963 due to high operating costs, now a popular tourist destination
The proposal has faced significant criticism from California officials. State governor Gavin Newsom condemned the plan as a 'colossally bad fiscal idea,' while former House speaker Nancy Pelosi called it 'a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayer dollars.' According to KQED, state senator Scott Wiener's office estimated that rebuilding Alcatraz could cost over $2 billion. The island currently lacks essential infrastructure such as water, power, gas, and sewage systems.
The Bureau of Prisons has not provided updates on the project assessments or whether they have been completed. A spokesperson for the bureau stated that they are 'moving forward, evaluating, and formulating the actions necessary' to support Trump's agenda. The prison was closed in 1963 due to high operating costs and became a popular tourist destination under the National Park Service's management.
The $152 million request is part of a larger $1.7 billion proposal to fund the Bureau of Prisons' 'crumbling detention facilities.' Trump has characterized Alcatraz as a symbol of law and order, citing its historical reputation for housing some of the nation's most notorious criminals. However, critics argue that the project would be extremely costly and raise questions about the fate of the historic site, which attracts over a million tourists annually.
Located near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz is also known as The Rock. It was originally a naval defense fort before being converted first to a military prison and then to a federal prison in the 1930s after being taken over by the Department of Justice. Some of its most notable inmates have included notorious gangsters Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly. The facility currently brings in $60 million in revenue as an attraction.
Pelosi also raised concerns echoed by other San Francisco politicians that turning Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would mean the loss of an iconic landmark. The request will need to be approved by the US Congress, with Trump announcing his plans on Truth Social last year, directing 'the Bureau of Prisons, together with the Department of Justice, FBI, and Homeland Security, to reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ.' The prison would 'house America's most ruthless and violent offenders,' according to Trump.
According to Fox News, President Trump first pushed the idea last year with a Truth Social post stating, 'REBUILD, AND OPEN ALCATRAZ!' He argued that for too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders. The White House requested $152 million to begin reopening Alcatraz as an operational prison, included in the Trump administration’s fiscal year 2027 budget request.
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