Trump wants to reopen Alcatraz as a prison - could it happen?

July 17, 2025

The Trump administration is actively exploring the possibility of reopening Alcatraz, the historic former federal prison in San Francisco Bay, as a functioning detention facility. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Bergum recently toured the site, following President Trump's May announcement expressing interest in reviving the prison as a symbol of law and order. Despite the administration's stated commitment to the project, prison experts and historians have strongly criticized the plan as unrealistic, citing numerous challenges including deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate facilities, and prohibitively high operational costs.

Who is affected

Current visitors to Alcatraz (1.4 million people annually)
The National Park Service and Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy who currently manage the site
Federal prisoners who might potentially be housed there
The Bureau of Prisons that would oversee operations
Local San Francisco residents and communities near the bay

What action is being taken

Trump administration officials Pam Bondi and Doug Bergum are touring Alcatraz
The Bureau of Prisons is "working towards rebuilding and opening Alcatraz to serve as a symbol of law and order" according to justice department spokesman Chad Gilmartin
The White House is investigating the possibility of converting the historic landmark back into a prison
Trump is publicly promoting the idea through statements and social media posts

Why it matters

Reopening Alcatraz would symbolize Trump's emphasis on "law and order" as he explicitly stated
The proposal represents a dramatic shift in the site's purpose from historical landmark to active prison
Experts identify significant practical challenges including deteriorating infrastructure, inadequate facilities, and high operational costs (potentially over $500 per inmate compared to $120-$164 at other federal facilities)
The prison could only hold about 340 prisoners at its peak, limiting its actual impact on the prison system
The site currently generates significant tourism revenue and serves as an educational resource about prison history

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC