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
(18,822 posts)srose58089
(221 posts)Maybe he is looking for a place to stay after being impeached and removed from the Whitehouse.
Aristus
(72,213 posts)There are better, more secure, and less expensive prisons out there. Trump just wants the name; synonymous with "tough on crime".
Thomas Hurt
(13,984 posts)MorbidButterflyTat
(4,528 posts)Greedy grifting SOB.
Ilikepurple
(687 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
(4,641 posts)Journeyman
(15,452 posts)kacekwl
(9,160 posts)and all trumps cabinet and family can be sentenced there when convicted.
Yellowdog-1966
(67 posts)All the electrical and HVAC are out of date.
And he wants a big big golf course at his retirement home.
kacekwl
(9,160 posts)pwb
(12,689 posts)then walk away a don't do it. Chances are he already forgot he said it.
hadEnuf
(3,621 posts)Yet he's a convicted criminal.
BaronChocula
(4,562 posts)Person.
Ever.
Bengus81
(10,174 posts)Hope22
(4,757 posts)Not the first time wont be the last!
eggplant
(4,203 posts)jmowreader
(53,209 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
(4,203 posts)Not sure how I missed that.
Dave Id
(286 posts)to imprison his detractors?
SarcasticSatyr
(1,363 posts)Don't keep us waiting.
Martin68
(27,758 posts)Botany
(77,356 posts)flvegan
(66,289 posts)millions more American shitbags deliberately sat the last election out.
And there may have been some light treason and cheating.
Aviation Pro
(15,591 posts)Is based on movies hes seen.
Botany
(77,356 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
(2,453 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
(2,649 posts)Goonch
(5,079 posts)
Zorro
(18,701 posts)Then stash Trump in the Al Capone cell. That would be a real moneymaking operation.
jls4561
(3,136 posts)bmichaelh
(1,188 posts)First, Trump needs to visit The Hague, Netherlands.
Traildogbob
(13,025 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?
bucolic_frolic
(55,194 posts)Is Re-Opening Alcatraz a fetish yet? How many people have it?
Bayard
(29,731 posts)underpants
(196,549 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
(41,697 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
(27,257 posts)The MFer is really frickin insane and hes trolling SF!
no_hypocrisy
(54,926 posts)Turbineguy
(40,088 posts)alone to decorate his cell.
Auggie
(33,168 posts)Plan the absurd, then position thyself as "martyr" when it is denied. MAGA eats it up.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(135,809 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
(38,044 posts)And as we all know, Trump doesn't care about being cost effective...it's not his money.