Trump requests $152M to reopen Alcatraz as federal prison

The Trump administration has requested $152 million in its fiscal year 2027 federal budget proposal to refurbish and reopen Alcatraz as a prison, according to the budget released Friday.

President Donald Trump first directed his administration to explore reopening the prison on Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay in May 2025. In a Truth Social post at that time, Trump called upon the Department of Justice, the FBI and Homeland Security to rebuild the facility. "When we were a more serious nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm," Trump wrote. "The reopening of Alcatraz will serve as a symbol of law, order and justice."

Alcatraz operated as a federal penitentiary for 30 years before closing in 1963. The facility has since become a popular tourist attraction, drawing more than one million visitors annually. The National Park Service currently operates the site as a historic landmark.

The budget request seeks funding "to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility," with the $152 million covering first-year costs. Located near San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, the facility is also known as The Rock and was once regarded as one of America's most notorious prisons, housing inmates known for attempted escapes.

The proposal has faced skepticism from California elected officials. Several politicians have questioned the feasibility and merit of the undertaking. According to the San Francisco Standard, Alcatraz currently lacks water, power, gas and sewage systems. California state senator Scott Wiener's office estimated this week that rebuilding the property would require substantial additional investment beyond the requested amount.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi commented on the budget proposal, raising concerns about the project's viability and costs, though her full statement was not detailed in available reports.