Trump Proposes Reopening Alcatraz as a Federal Prison
President Donald Trump has put forth a request for $152 million in the 2027 federal budget to revive Alcatraz Island as a federal prison, building on his announcement from last year about reopening the facility.
This budget allocates funds to the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to handle the initial year’s rebuilding costs for the maximum-security prison, which transitioned to a tourist hotspot following its closure in 1969.
The White House directed inquiries to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), which previously stated on social media in 2025 that Trump aims to reopen maximum-security prisons “to house America’s most ruthless and violent criminals” as well as to act as a “symbol of law, order, and justice.”
In his statements, President Trump has championed the notion of remodeling prisons and bringing them back into operation.
The proposal submitted to Congress was part of Trump’s fiscal year 2027 budget release.
“This budget makes further investments in the BOP to ensure competitive wages, safe working conditions, and an end to the long-standing shortage of correctional officers,” the proposal outlines. “Within this budget, the President’s commitment to rebuild Alcatraz Island as a secure, state-of-the-art prison facility is also confirmed.”
However, Congress must approve the budget before any funds are allocated. In May 2025, the BOP collaborated with the National Park Service to assess whether modernizing the infrastructure on the rocky island would be practical.
A few months later, in July, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi alongside Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum visited the island for a personal inspection, after which Bondi remarked that it was a “fantastic facility.”
Modernizing Alcatraz will pose significant challenges. The facility has deteriorated, exposed to seawater and unstable conditions, and lacks essential water and sewage systems. Additionally, building materials will need to be transported to the island via barge, complicating logistics.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) commended Trump’s 2027 budget proposal for restoring “fiscal health.”
“This budget builds on the America First policy to quickly restore sanity, prioritize public safety, and deliver relief. It aims to reignite the American Dream while addressing the waste and fraud that has long plagued Washington,” he stated.
Opened in 1934, Alcatraz Island was renowned as America’s most secure prison, surrounded by treacherous waters and strong currents. Designed to house 336 inmates, it holds no confirmed records of successful escapes. Yet, 36 individuals attempted to break free, including two who made multiple attempts.
In a notable escape attempt in 1962, three men—Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin—used a raft made from over 50 stolen rubber raincoats. Their fate remains uncertain, as their bodies were never located, leading to theories that they either drowned or reached safety. The U.S. Marshals Service has yet to resolve the case.
Prior to its closure, the prison, often called “The Rock,” was home to notorious criminals like Al Capone, “Machine Gun” Kelly, James “Whitey” Bulger, and “The Alcatraz Birdman” Robert Stroud.
Currently, Alcatraz draws around 1.2 million tourists each year, generating nearly $60 million in revenue for park partners, according to the National Park Service.
The BOP’s website explains that the prison was originally shut down due to high maintenance costs, which were almost three times greater than those of other federal facilities at that time.
