Former U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking a budget of $152 million (£115 million) to reopen Alcatraz prison, a renowned facility located near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, as part of his 2027 fiscal year proposals. The infamous site, once known as America’s most notorious prison, has turned into a popular tourist destination in recent years.
The funding request is intended to 'rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility,' covering the initial year's costs. However, the proposal has encountered skepticism from several California politicians, who have raised concerns about the eventual expenses and the logistics of operating Alcatraz as an active prison.
Alcatraz was closed in 1963 and is currently managed as a tourist site by the National Park Service. Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House, criticized the proposal as 'absurd on its face' and an impractical use of taxpayer dollars, calling it 'a waste and an insult to the intelligence of the American people.'
The request, part of a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, would need approval from Congress. Critics have pointed out that the island lacks essential amenities like running water and sewage systems, and that all supplies would have to be transported by boat. By its closure, Alcatraz was already three times more expensive to run than other federal prisons.
In addition, Pelosi and other San Francisco leaders expressed worry that turning Alcatraz back into a prison could mean the loss of a significant historical landmark. The facility currently generates approximately $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a tourist attraction.
Trump announced his intentions to reopen Alcatraz through a social media post, declaring plans for the facility to house 'America's most ruthless and violent offenders'. Originally built as a military fort before becoming a federal prison in the 1930s, Alcatraz has housed infamous inmates like Al Capone and George 'Machine Gun' Kelly.
The site has also been featured in numerous films, including 'Birdman of Alcatraz' (1962) and 'Escape from Alcatraz' (1979), contributing to its historic significance beyond its prison days.
