A White House official mentioned on Friday that President Trump’s proposal to reopen Alcatraz, which reportedly comes with a $2 billion price tag, seems “excessive.”
The official stated, “Those numbers sound excessive, but ultimately it’s up to the president to decide,” during remarks to News Nation, which is affiliated with The Hill.
On Thursday, Attorney General Pam Bondy and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgham visited the island, which once housed the notorious San Francisco Bay prison that was shut down in 1963, to evaluate its condition.
“We’re still in the early stages,” an administration official communicated to Axios.
“More research and specifics are necessary before the president can make a decision,” they added. “But $2 billion might be too much money for him.”
The Trump administration has yet to confirm the actual cost of the proposed project.
According to Axios, the president is considering a $2 billion investment for a comprehensive renovation of Alcatraz, including an initial $1 billion for partial renovations that would not fully occupy the island or allow private companies to bid on the work.
This approach echoes tactics used for securing Delaney Hall Detention Center in New Jersey for federal immigration-related projects. Meanwhile, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recently funded the opening of the Alligator Alcatraz Immigration Detention Center in Florida.
Neither the White House nor the Department of the Interior provided immediate comments regarding potential developments concerning California prisons managed by the National Park Service.
Comments from Bondy and Burgham after their visit were referred to The Hill by the Justice Department.
In a social media post, Bondy remarked, “In America, law and order are paramount, and today’s visit to Alcatraz represents a significant step toward ensuring dangerous criminals are held accountable while keeping citizens safe.” Their message was echoed by Burgham.
In May, Trump announced a directive to begin the process of reopening prisons, with the Bureau of Prisons attributing the closure to financial complications.
The president stated, “Rebuilding and reopening Alcatraz! For too long, our society has been troubled by violent offenders.” He reflected on a time when, in his view, society took stronger actions against dangerous criminals.
This initiative has drawn criticism, especially from Democrats, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif).
Pelosi called the idea to reopen Alcatraz “one of the Trump administration’s most misguided initiatives.” She suggested that the only source for such a “stupid concept” seems to be a fictional Hollywood narrative from years past.
She further questioned the administration’s ability to afford the costly renovation while already contributing trillions to the national debt under what she called “sinful laws.”
If pushed forward, she warned that Democrats would employ all available legislative methods to halt what she described as “absurd.”
