President Donald Trump has requested $152 million from Congress to begin rebuilding Alcatraz as a federal prison.
The funding request is part of the 2027 budget proposal released on Friday. The proposal outlines plans to transform the iconic site near San Francisco into a “state-of-the-art secure prison facility” to house the nation’s most dangerous offenders.
Alcatraz, known as The Rock, was a maximum-security prison until its closure in 1963. It has since become a popular tourist attraction managed by the National Park Service. The plan to reopen it as a prison has drawn criticism from several California politicians. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal “absurd” and a “waste of taxpayer dollars.” Pelosi and others argue that reopening Alcatraz would be costly and impractical, given the island’s lack of infrastructure, such as running water and sewage systems.
The proposal is part of a broader $1.7 billion investment in the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) aimed at addressing “crumbling” detention infrastructure. While the budget sets aside funds for the first year of development, it does not specify how the money will be used or the total cost of the project.
The plan has faced skepticism due to the high operating costs associated with Alcatraz. According to the BBC, it was three times more expensive to operate than other federal prisons when it closed. Additionally, the National Park Service reports that Alcatraz currently generates $60 million in revenue as a tourist site.
Despite the pushback, the White House remains committed to the project, positioning it as a part of a larger strategy to “secure America’s prisons.” Congress must approve the proposal for it to move forward, and it is expected to face significant scrutiny over feasibility and cost.
Recent Comments