Trump seeks $152 million to reopen Alcatraz as active prison
Source: Reuters
April 3, 2026 11:58 AM EDT Updated 1 hour ago
April 3 (Reuters) - The White House on Friday sought $152 million to return the former Alcatraz prison island to active duty, following up on President Donald Trump's call last year to transform the popular San Francisco Bay tourist destination. The request was tucked into a proposed budget the White House released to fund the government for the 2027 fiscal year.
Such spending requests are typically treated by lawmakers in Congress as suggestions. The budget seeks funds for the Federal Bureau of Prisons to cover the first-year costs of rebuilding Alcatraz into "a state-of-the-art secure prison facility." It closed in 1969 and has been under the National Park Service's auspices.
Trump in May announced on social media that he was directing the Bureau of Prisons, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other agencies to "reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt ALCATRAZ, to house America's most ruthless and violent Offenders."
Alcatraz, which opened in 1934, had been billed as America's most secure prison given the island location, frigid waters and strong currents. No successful escapes were ever officially recorded, though five prisoners are listed as "missing and presumed drowned."
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-seeks-152-million-reopen-alcatraz-active-prison-2026-04-03/
twodogsbarking
(19,353 posts)srose58089
(221 posts)Maybe he is looking for a place to stay after being impeached and removed from the Whitehouse.
Aristus
(72,525 posts)There are better, more secure, and less expensive prisons out there. Trump just wants the name; synonymous with "tough on crime".
Thomas Hurt
(13,994 posts)MorbidButterflyTat
(4,744 posts)Greedy grifting SOB.
Ilikepurple
(794 posts)As a child, I was very much enthralled movie depictions or media stories of famous prisons, especially Alcatraz. As a child, Im guessing Trump still does. Im just hoping Trump doesnt get Escape From Alcatraz mixed up with Escape From New York and try to turn Manhattan into a prison.
rampartd
(5,046 posts)Journeyman
(15,486 posts)kacekwl
(9,265 posts)and all trumps cabinet and family can be sentenced there when convicted.
Yellowdog-1966
(70 posts)All the electrical and HVAC are out of date.
And he wants a big big golf course at his retirement home.
kacekwl
(9,265 posts)pwb
(12,802 posts)then walk away a don't do it. Chances are he already forgot he said it.
hadEnuf
(3,657 posts)Yet he's a convicted criminal.
BaronChocula
(4,763 posts)Person.
Ever.
Bengus81
(10,372 posts)Hope22
(4,882 posts)Not the first time wont be the last!
eggplant
(4,233 posts)jmowreader
(53,397 posts)If he converts Alcatraz from tourist attraction to active federal prison, a lot of tourists who might want to visit SFO won't go there. This will pull a huge amount of money out of SFO's economy.
eggplant
(4,233 posts)Not sure how I missed that.
Dave Id
(330 posts)to imprison his detractors?
SarcasticSatyr
(1,367 posts)Don't keep us waiting.
Martin68
(28,072 posts)Botany
(77,864 posts)flvegan
(66,528 posts)millions more American shitbags deliberately sat the last election out.
And there may have been some light treason and cheating.
Aviation Pro
(15,768 posts)Is based on movies hes seen.
Botany
(77,864 posts)
in America to run. All the food, supplies, fuel, prisoners, waste products, and employees had
to be transported by ships to and from the island. The water and salt air have corroded all the
existing buildings.
Trump is nutz.
Ritabert
(2,613 posts)The salt air is brutal on concrete and iron. The place is rusty with crumbling concrete. All supplies and employees have to be sent in by boat. Ridiculously expensive.
Buddyzbuddy
(2,911 posts)Goonch
(5,593 posts)
Zorro
(18,889 posts)Then stash Trump in the Al Capone cell. That would be a real moneymaking operation.
jls4561
(3,268 posts)bmichaelh
(1,267 posts)First, Trump needs to visit The Hague, Netherlands.
Traildogbob
(13,163 posts)Our tax dollars can not afford that. Or anything to benefit us. It all goes to war, ICE prisons and the Trump KKKlan of billionaires.
Wake the ever loving fuck up MurKKKa. Or have you MAGATs been enjoying what is being crammed up your ass a little too much?
mountain grammy
(29,218 posts)or the war budget.. Who knows? He's a madman.
Traildogbob
(13,163 posts)Have ya seen HER pictures. Yep, he is her son. Damn his parents. He MUST feel pain as he parts this earth. And humiliation. As do his spawn. Horrendous pain and eternal humiliation. And Poverty. Fuck that DNA.
mountain grammy
(29,218 posts)I was living back east in the early 70s when the evil blob crossed my path on some NY news station. Then it seemed like he was always there and always being an asshole. My God! He will be the end of us.
bucolic_frolic
(55,840 posts)Is Re-Opening Alcatraz a fetish yet? How many people have it?
Bayard
(30,288 posts)underpants
(197,191 posts)Hey motherfucker! Gas is fucking $4.29 a fucking gallon down here and our healthcare is through the fucking roof!! Dumbass mother fucker!!!
FakeNoose
(42,426 posts)I seem to recall there was no electricity or running water other than what they could pump from a ground well, or maybe drinking water was brought in by boat. Am I right?
It was really primitive, but of course there were no prisoners, it was just a museum of sorts.
kimbutgar
(27,558 posts)The MFer is really frickin insane and hes trolling SF!
no_hypocrisy
(55,384 posts)Turbineguy
(40,213 posts)alone to decorate his cell.
Auggie
(33,316 posts)Plan the absurd, then position thyself as "martyr" when it is denied. MAGA eats it up.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(137,470 posts)Mixpix
(1 post)For one, there is no natural source for water; it would need to be shipped or desal plant would also need to be constructed. It is on a far more busier shipping channel than the past and being it built on an ocean, would have more rapid degradation due to salt air and moisture than if built inland away from waterways.
The land is valuable, too valuable for a prison IMO.
GP6971
(38,406 posts)And as we all know, Trump doesn't care about being cost effective...it's not his money.
LetMyPeopleVote
(182,091 posts)
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