Trump Seeks $152 Million to Reopen Alcatraz as Federal Prison

The president's budget request resurrects his controversial plan to convert the historic site into a high-security facility.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:18pm by Ben Kaplan

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A photorealistic painting of the Alcatraz prison building, its imposing concrete walls and towers bathed in warm, golden sunlight that casts deep shadows across the structure. The image conveys a sense of political tension and the weight of the island's history as a symbol of America's criminal justice system.The historic Alcatraz prison, once home to some of America's most notorious criminals, now faces an uncertain future as the Trump administration seeks to reopen it as a working federal facility.San Francisco Today

President Trump is requesting $152 million from Congress to begin the process of reopening the former federal prison on Alcatraz Island as a 'state-of-the-art secure prison facility.' The proposal has faced strong opposition from lawmakers and critics who argue it would be prohibitively expensive and undermine the island's status as a historic landmark and popular tourist attraction.

Why it matters

Alcatraz has stood as a symbol of America's criminal justice system for decades, but converting the site into an active prison would be a major and costly undertaking that could dramatically alter its character. The proposal also reflects the Trump administration's continued focus on law enforcement and incarceration as policy priorities.

The details

The $152 million request is for the first year of the project, though the total cost and timeline are unclear. The Bureau of Prisons says it is 'moving forward' with evaluating the feasibility of the plan, but has provided few specifics. Critics argue the project would be 'prohibitively expensive' and a 'waste of taxpayer dollars' that would undermine Alcatraz's status as a historic landmark and tourist attraction.

  • The $152 million request is included in President Trump's proposed budget for fiscal year 2027.
  • In July 2025, then-Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Alcatraz to assess the site's potential for use as a federal prison.

The players

President Trump

The president who is proposing to reopen Alcatraz as a federal prison.

Rep. Nancy Pelosi

The Democratic Congresswoman from San Francisco who has vowed to block the proposal in Congress.

William K. Marshall

The director of the Bureau of Prisons who has pledged to 'vigorously pursue' the president's agenda for Alcatraz.

Sen. Patty Murray

The Democratic Senator from Washington who criticized the proposal as a waste of money that ignores needs at existing federal prisons.

Sen. Adam Schiff

The Democratic Senator from California who has characterized the Alcatraz proposal as part of an attack on national parks.

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What they’re saying

“Alcatraz is a historic museum that belongs to the public, and San Franciscans will not stand for Washington turning one of our most iconic landmarks into a political prop.”

— Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman

“Trump's continued push to reopen it as a federal prison is a wasteful exercise in futility. He should focus on lowering the cost of living for the American people, not raising the cost of our prisons.”

— Sen. Adam Schiff, Senator

What’s next

Congress will need to approve any funding for the Alcatraz prison proposal as part of the federal budget process. Lawmakers are expected to face significant pressure from constituents and advocacy groups to reject the plan.

The takeaway

The Alcatraz prison proposal reflects the Trump administration's continued focus on law enforcement and incarceration as policy priorities, even as critics argue the project would be prohibitively expensive and undermine the historic site's status as a national landmark. The plan faces an uphill battle in Congress, where lawmakers have vowed to block it.