US President Donald Trump is seeking $152 million in federal funding to reopen the former Alcatraz Island prison, according to a White House budget proposal for fiscal year 2027.
The funding request aims to support the first phase of rebuilding Alcatraz into a modern, high-security federal facility, with oversight by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
The prison, which closed in 1963 due to high operating and maintenance costs, is currently managed by the National Park Service and operates as a major tourist attraction.
Trump had previously announced in May 2025 that he directed the Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Justice, and other agencies to explore reopening and significantly expanding the facility to house the most dangerous offenders in the United States.
Originally opened in 1934, Alcatraz was considered one of the most secure prisons in the country due to its isolated island location, freezing waters, and strong currents. While no officially confirmed escapes were recorded, several inmates were listed as missing and presumed drowned.
The prison once housed some of America’s most notorious criminals, including Al Capone and James Whitey Bulger.
Located about 1.25 miles off the coast of San Francisco, Alcatraz had a capacity of 336 inmates and later became a cultural icon, featured in films such as The Rock.
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