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 aimed at 'rebuilding Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility', with funds covering the first year of operational costs. However, the plan has faced skepticism from various politicians in California, who have raised questions regarding the total cost of the project and the logistical challenges 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 described the budget proposal from the Trump administration as 'absurd on its face and should be rejected outright', adding that transforming Alcatraz back into a prison would waste taxpayer dollars and undermine the intelligence of the American public.
Pelosi also pointed out concerns echoed by other local politicians, indicating that converting Alcatraz into a functioning prison would mean sacrificing an iconic landmark. As per the National Park Service, this facility currently generates $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a tourist attraction.
Trump's initiative is positioned within a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, highlighting the administration's approach to tackling crime. Critics of the plan have previously noted that the island lacks essential amenities such as running water and sewage systems, and that all supplies must be transported by boat. During its last operational years, Alcatraz was found to be three times more expensive to run than any other federal prison, according to the US Bureau of Prisons. Considering its historical legacy, many are questioning the cost and practicality of reopening such a notorious facility.
The budget request is aimed at 'rebuilding Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility', with funds covering the first year of operational costs. However, the plan has faced skepticism from various politicians in California, who have raised questions regarding the total cost of the project and the logistical challenges 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 described the budget proposal from the Trump administration as 'absurd on its face and should be rejected outright', adding that transforming Alcatraz back into a prison would waste taxpayer dollars and undermine the intelligence of the American public.
Pelosi also pointed out concerns echoed by other local politicians, indicating that converting Alcatraz into a functioning prison would mean sacrificing an iconic landmark. As per the National Park Service, this facility currently generates $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a tourist attraction.
Trump's initiative is positioned within a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, highlighting the administration's approach to tackling crime. Critics of the plan have previously noted that the island lacks essential amenities such as running water and sewage systems, and that all supplies must be transported by boat. During its last operational years, Alcatraz was found to be three times more expensive to run than any other federal prison, according to the US Bureau of Prisons. Considering its historical legacy, many are questioning the cost and practicality of reopening such a notorious facility.
