WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. President Donald Trump has requested $152 million from Congress to begin rebuilding the former Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary, as part of a proposal to return the historic island prison to active use.
The funding request, submitted on Friday, marks a renewed push by the administration to repurpose the long-closed facility, once known for housing some of America’s most high-profile inmates.
Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay, has been closed as a federal prison since 1963 and currently operates as a major tourist site managed by the National Park Service.
Details of the proposed redevelopment plan remain limited, but officials suggest the move is aimed at expanding detention capacity and reinforcing federal correctional infrastructure.
The proposal is expected to face scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers will assess its feasibility, cost implications, and broader policy rationale.
Critics are also likely to raise concerns about the practicality of restoring a decades-old facility, as well as environmental and logistical challenges associated with its island location.
As of now, it remains unclear whether the funding request will gain sufficient legislative support or how the project would be implemented if approved.
