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 '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 several politicians in California, raising questions about the project’s final cost and the challenges posed by running Alcatraz as an active prison. The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently managed by the National Park Service.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the budget proposal as 'absurd on its face and should be rejected outright', adding that 'rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern prison is a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to the intelligence of the American people.'
Approval from Congress is required for the request, which faces criticism for logistical issues such as the lack of running water and sewage on the island, necessitating all supplies to be transported by boat. By the time Alcatraz closed, it was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
In her concerns, Pelosi echoed sentiments from other San Francisco politicians worried that converting Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would jeopardize a landmark that currently generates approximately $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a historical site. The funding request is included in a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons.
However, the plan has been met with skepticism by several politicians in California, raising questions about the project’s final cost and the challenges posed by running Alcatraz as an active prison. The maximum security facility was closed in 1963 and is currently managed by the National Park Service.
Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi described the budget proposal as 'absurd on its face and should be rejected outright', adding that 'rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern prison is a stupid notion that would be nothing more than a waste of taxpayer dollars and an insult to the intelligence of the American people.'
Approval from Congress is required for the request, which faces criticism for logistical issues such as the lack of running water and sewage on the island, necessitating all supplies to be transported by boat. By the time Alcatraz closed, it was three times more expensive to operate than any other federal prison.
In her concerns, Pelosi echoed sentiments from other San Francisco politicians worried that converting Alcatraz back into a functioning prison would jeopardize a landmark that currently generates approximately $60 million (£45 million) in revenue as a historical site. The funding request is included in a broader $1.7 billion (£1.3 billion) investment into the Bureau of Prisons.
