US President Donald Trump is seeking $152 million (£115 million) to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison as part of his proposed budget for the 2027 fiscal year. Located near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the site, also known as The Rock, was once regarded as one of America's most notorious prisons but has served as a tourist attraction in recent years.
The budget request is seeking money to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility, with funds covering the first year of costs. The plan has met skepticism from various California politicians. Questions have been raised about the overall cost of the project and the feasibility of running Alcatraz as an active prison.
The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently managed by the National Park Service as a tourist site. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the budget proposal from the Trump administration as being absurd on its face and should be rejected outright, branding the idea of modernizing Alcatraz as a prison a stupid notion that would waste taxpayer dollars.
Critics are also concerned about logistical challenges such as bringing in supplies by boat, given the island lacks running water and sewage facilities. By the time it closed, it was reported to be three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
The request is part of a larger $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, and it will require the approval of the US Congress. While Alcatraz currently operates as a tourist destination generating around $60 million (£45 million) in revenue, turning it back into a functioning prison could mean the loss of an iconic landmark. Critics have noted that turning Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would sacrifice its status as a historic site that's revered by tourists.
When initially announcing his plans on Truth Social, Trump indicated that the prison would house America's most ruthless and violent offenders. Alcatraz, originally a naval defense fort, became a military prison before transforming into a federal prison in the 1930s. Its notorious inmates included infamous gangsters like Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. The prison remains a popular subject in film and culture, featured in major films including 'Escape from Alcatraz' and 'The Rock.'
With numerous challenges ahead, including local opposition and infrastructure issues, the revival of Alcatraz as a prison could face significant hurdles.
The budget request is seeking money to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility, with funds covering the first year of costs. The plan has met skepticism from various California politicians. Questions have been raised about the overall cost of the project and the feasibility of running Alcatraz as an active prison.
The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently managed by the National Park Service as a tourist site. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized the budget proposal from the Trump administration as being absurd on its face and should be rejected outright, branding the idea of modernizing Alcatraz as a prison a stupid notion that would waste taxpayer dollars.
Critics are also concerned about logistical challenges such as bringing in supplies by boat, given the island lacks running water and sewage facilities. By the time it closed, it was reported to be three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
The request is part of a larger $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, and it will require the approval of the US Congress. While Alcatraz currently operates as a tourist destination generating around $60 million (£45 million) in revenue, turning it back into a functioning prison could mean the loss of an iconic landmark. Critics have noted that turning Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would sacrifice its status as a historic site that's revered by tourists.
When initially announcing his plans on Truth Social, Trump indicated that the prison would house America's most ruthless and violent offenders. Alcatraz, originally a naval defense fort, became a military prison before transforming into a federal prison in the 1930s. Its notorious inmates included infamous gangsters like Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. The prison remains a popular subject in film and culture, featured in major films including 'Escape from Alcatraz' and 'The Rock.'
With numerous challenges ahead, including local opposition and infrastructure issues, the revival of Alcatraz as a prison could face significant hurdles.
