The White House has requested $152 million to reactivate the former Alcatraz prison island, echoing President Donald Trump’s previous call to repurpose the popular San Francisco Bay tourist spot. The funding proposal was included in the White House’s budget plan for the 2027 fiscal year, which serves as a guideline for Congress.
The budget allocation is intended to cover the initial expenses of transforming Alcatraz into a modern high-security prison facility under the Federal Bureau of Prisons. The prison, which ceased operations in 1969 and has since been managed by the National Park Service, will undergo reconstruction as per Trump’s directive in May.
Alcatraz, established in 1934, was renowned as the most secure prison in America due to its isolated island location, icy waters, and strong currents. While no successful escapes were officially documented, five inmates are marked as “missing and presumed drowned.”
The facility, which once housed infamous criminals like Al Capone and James “Whitey” Bulger, was shut down due to its exorbitant operational costs, as it was nearly triple the expenses of other federal prisons.