Trump seeks $152 million to reopen Alcatraz as active prison

[BumRushDaShow]

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]

1. Will there be a ballroom?

[srose58089]

38. A new tRump home

Maybe he is looking for a place to stay after being impeached and removed from the Whitehouse.

[Aristus]

2. Like everything else with Trump, this is just for show, and has no practical value.

There are better, more secure, and less expensive prisons out there. Trump just wants the name; synonymous with "tough on crime".

[Thomas Hurt]

12. Probably wants to change the name to Trump's Alcatraz Island Pentitiary

[MorbidButterflyTat]

17. He probably wants the 152 million

Greedy grifting SOB.

[Ilikepurple]

27. I'm sure it's that, but I never underestimate the impact of movies and tv on his worldview.

As a child, I was very much enthralled movie depictions or media stories of famous prisons, especially Alcatraz. As a child, I’m guessing Trump still does. I’m just hoping Trump doesn’t get Escape From Alcatraz mixed up with Escape From New York and try to turn Manhattan into a prison.

[rampartd]

29. maybe isaac hayes could teach trump some manners.....

[Journeyman]

3. Only if it's used to house Trump alone, like Hess was held in Spandau . . .

[kacekwl]

8. Forget any remodel. Leave it as is

and all trumps cabinet and family can be sentenced there when convicted.

[Yellowdog-1966]

44. It will take more than $152 million to remodel it

All the electrical and HVAC are out of date.
And he wants a big big golf course at his retirement home.

[kacekwl]

4. What a moron. N/ T

[pwb]

5. Just tell Trump, yes sure o k

then walk away a don't do it. Chances are he already forgot he said it.

[hadEnuf]

6. Alcatraz!!!! Ooooooooh!!!!! Another Trump stunt to look "hard on crime".

Yet he's a convicted criminal.

[BaronChocula]

7. Dumbest.

Person.
Ever.

[Bengus81]

9. Just when you think he' run out of Epstein FILES distractions

[Hope22]

10. Another spin of the Rolodex!

Not the first time…won’t be the last!

[eggplant]

11. Something wrong with ADX Florence?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ADX_Florence

[jmowreader]

42. ADX Florence doesn't impact San Francisco's economy

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]

43. So, once again, spite.

Not sure how I missed that.

[Dave Id]

13. Why...

to imprison his detractors?

[SarcasticSatyr]

14. For God's sake cholesterol ... get on with it.

Don't keep us waiting.

[Martin68]

15. He has the oddest obsessions and whims. So remind me, how did he become president?

[Botany]

22. So remind me, how did he become president?

They cheated.

https://thiswillhold.substack.com/p/she-won-florida-used-a-fake-county

[flvegan]

36. Because 77 million American shitbags voted for him, and

millions more American shitbags deliberately sat the last election out.

And there may have been some light treason and cheating.

[Aviation Pro]

16. The child rapist bag of fuck's entire world view

Is based on movies he’s seen.

[Botany]

18. Oh for the love of dog Alcatraz was closed in 1963 because it was the most expensive federal prison..

…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]

19. There's a reason Alcatraz was closed.

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]

20. I'm tired of talking about, the war I started, the economy, my polls and the

EPSTEIN FILES!!!

[Goonch]

21. ;-{) Trump's Alcatraz

[Zorro]

23. Leave it as is

Then stash Trump in the Al Capone cell. That would be a real moneymaking operation.

[jls4561]

28. The profits from the sale of rotten eggs and produce would be UUUGE!

[bmichaelh]

24. The Hague

First, Trump needs to visit The Hague, Netherlands.

[Traildogbob]

25. Medicaid Medicare and Child Care

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 MAGAT’s been enjoying what is being crammed up your ass a little too much?

[mountain grammy]

46. Yes, will this come out of the Healthcare budget

or the war budget.. Who knows? He's a madman.

[Traildogbob]

47. Just an evil evil SOB.

Have ya seen HER pictures. Yep, he is her son. Damn his parents. He MUST feel pain as he parts this earth. And humiliation. As do his spawn. Horrendous pain and eternal humiliation. And Poverty. Fuck that DNA.

[mountain grammy]

48. Couldn't agree more

I was living back east in the early 70’s when the evil blob crossed my path on some NY news station. Then it seemed like he was always there and always being an asshole. My God! He will be the end of us.

[bucolic_frolic]

26. Is it Dungeon Worship?

Is Re-Opening Alcatraz a fetish yet? How many people have it?

[Bayard]

30. The next place he wants to store immigrants

[underpants]

31. Average American (warning language)

Hey motherfucker! Gas is fucking $4.29 a fucking gallon down here and our healthcare is through the fucking roof!! Dumbass mother fucker!!!

[FakeNoose]

32. I got to see Alcatraz back in the 1970's, it was something you could see from a tourist boat

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]

34. The cost of returning it to a prison would be astronomical and is more economical to keep it as a tourist attraction

The MFer is really frickin insane and he’s trolling SF!

[no_hypocrisy]

33. It's too good for TSF.

[Turbineguy]

35. It will take several million

alone to decorate his cell.

[Auggie]

37. MAGA pandering

Plan the absurd, then position thyself as "martyr" when it is denied. MAGA eats it up.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

39. He should be the first resident

[Mixpix]

40. Wouldn't be cost effective

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]

41. Keep in mind the $154m is only for the 2027 FY.

And as we all know, Trump doesn't care about being cost effective...it's not his money.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

45. Welcome to DU