Trump seeks $152m to reopen notorious Alcatraz prison

Trump seeks $152m to reopen Alcatraz prison

Donald Trump, the US president, is proposing a $152 million allocation to revive the historic Alcatraz prison as part of his 2027 fiscal year budget. Situated near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, the island, known as The Rock, was once a symbol of America’s most feared incarceration, but has since transitioned into a popular tourist destination. The plan aims to secure funding for reconstructing Alcatraz into a modern, secure correctional facility, with initial costs accounted for in the request.

Alcatraz, which operated as a maximum-security prison until 1963, is currently managed by the National Park Service. It generates $60 million annually in revenue as a tourist attraction. Critics, however, question the feasibility of the project, highlighting logistical challenges such as the need to transport all supplies by boat and the absence of on-site water and sewage systems. These concerns have drawn skepticism from California officials, including Nancy Pelosi, who dismissed the proposal as “absurd on its face and should be rejected outright.”

“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,” Pelosi stated.

The budget request is part of a $1.7 billion investment in the Bureau of Prisons. Trump announced the plan on his Truth Social platform, emphasizing that the prison would “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders” after being expanded and renovated. Alcatraz’s history as a naval defense fort dates back to the 19th century, before it was converted into a military prison and later a federal facility in the 1930s. Notable inmates included Al Capone, Mickey Cohen, and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.

Over the years, the island has also served as a filming location for several movies, such as 1962’s *Birdman of Alcatraz* and 1979’s *Escape from Alcatraz*. While its cultural legacy endures, some argue that repurposing it as a prison would undermine its status as an iconic landmark. The project’s approval hinges on Congress, with debates ongoing about its cost and practicality.