US President Donald Trump is seeking $152 million to reopen the historic Alcatraz prison as part of his proposed budget for the 2027 financial year.
The prison, located in San Francisco, was once considered one of America’s most notorious prisons, but in recent years has served as a tourist attraction. The prison was closed in 1963. As a tourist attraction, it is currently managed by the National Park Service.
Last year, Trump stated the prison would “house America’s most ruthless and violent offenders.” “The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE,” he posted on Truth Social.
The restoration of the prison, which would cost $152 million, has been met with scepticism by many politicians, who believe the restoration is pointless and a waste of public funds. Furthermore, the challenges associated with running Alcatraz as an operational prison have also raised eyebrows.
Former Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, stressed that the budget proposal from the Trump administration was “absurd on its face and should be rejected outright.” She added: “Rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern prison is a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayers’ money and an insult to the intelligence of the American people.”
Previous criticism of Trump’s plan has highlighted the lack of water and sewage systems on the island, as well as the fact that all supplies would have to be delivered by boat. The US Bureau of Prisons said that by the time Alcatraz closed, its running costs were three times higher than any other federal prison.
Another significant problem would be the conversion of Alcatraz into a functioning prison, which would mean the loss of a iconic landmark. According to the National Park Service, the site currently generates $60 million in revenue as a tourist attraction. The Californian prison is famous for its inmates, who included the notorious gangsters Al Capone, Mickey Cohen and George “Machine Gun” Kelly.
Alcatraz was originally a naval defence fort before being converted first into a military prison and then into a federal prison in the 1930s after being taken over by the Department of Justice.
