White House proposes budget to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison

The White House has requested $152 million in the fiscal year 2027 budget to begin transforming Alcatraz Island back into a high-security federal prison. This move follows an announcement by President Donald Trump last May, where he directed the Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Justice to renovate the site for the country's most dangerous offenders. Alcatraz originally served as a federal penitentiary from 1934 until its closure in 1969, at which point it came under the jurisdiction of the National Park Service. The island currently functions as a popular tourist destination in the San Francisco Bay. While the prison was historically considered secure due to its geography and cold, fast-moving currents, five inmates remain missing and are presumed drowned, though no escapes were officially confirmed. The proposed budget allocation is intended to cover initial construction costs for a modernized facility. This funding request will now be subject to review and negotiation by members of Congress.