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 aims to secure money 'to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility', covering the first year of costs. However, the plan has been met with skepticism by a number of politicians in California, raising questions about the final cost of the project and the challenges of running Alcatraz as an active prison.
The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently operated by the National Park Service. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal 'absurd' and criticized the idea of turning the prison back into an active facility, highlighting the potential waste of taxpayer dollars.
Concerns extend to the practical issues, including the absence of running water and sewage on the island where all supplies must be brought in by boat. Previously, operating Alcatraz was three times more expensive compared to any other federal prison.
Pelosi emphasized that reopening Alcatraz would mean losing an iconic landmark that currently brings in approximately $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a popular tourist destination. This funding request is part of a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, but approval from the US Congress is still required.
Historically, Alcatraz was originally a naval defense fort, later serving as a military prison before being repurposed as a federal prison in the 1930s, housing notorious criminals like Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. In recent years, it has gained fame as a filming location for various movies.
The budget request aims to secure money 'to rebuild Alcatraz as a state-of-the-art secure prison facility', covering the first year of costs. However, the plan has been met with skepticism by a number of politicians in California, raising questions about the final cost of the project and the challenges of running Alcatraz as an active prison.
The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently operated by the National Park Service. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the proposal 'absurd' and criticized the idea of turning the prison back into an active facility, highlighting the potential waste of taxpayer dollars.
Concerns extend to the practical issues, including the absence of running water and sewage on the island where all supplies must be brought in by boat. Previously, operating Alcatraz was three times more expensive compared to any other federal prison.
Pelosi emphasized that reopening Alcatraz would mean losing an iconic landmark that currently brings in approximately $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a popular tourist destination. This funding request is part of a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons, but approval from the US Congress is still required.
Historically, Alcatraz was originally a naval defense fort, later serving as a military prison before being repurposed as a federal prison in the 1930s, housing notorious criminals like Al Capone and Mickey Cohen. In recent years, it has gained fame as a filming location for various movies.
