President Donald Trump directed federal agencies Sunday to reopen the historic Alcatraz prison in San Francisco Bay, declaring the long-shuttered facility will once again house "America's most ruthless and violent Offenders." The directive, issued via Truth Social, instructs the Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice, FBI, and Department of Homeland Security to rebuild and expand the infamous island penitentiary that closed in 196313.

The announcement represents Trump's latest effort to reshape federal incarceration policies amid ongoing tensions with courts over immigration enforcement and detention practices.

The Presidential Directive

"For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society," Trump wrote in his Sunday evening post2. The president characterized the reopening as a return to when America "did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm"4.

A Bureau of Prisons spokesperson responded that the agency "will comply with all Presidential Orders" but offered no specifics on implementation timeline, feasibility studies, or budgetary considerations3. The mandate comes as Trump has clashed with judges over attempts to transfer alleged gang members to a prison in El Salvador and detain undocumented immigrants38.

Historical and Logistical Challenges

Alcatraz operated as a federal maximum-security prison from 1934 until 1963, when officials shuttered it due to deteriorating infrastructure and prohibitive operational costs38. The facility required expensive maintenance and all supplies had to be transported by boat4.

Reopening would necessitate substantial investment to modernize the crumbling structure to meet contemporary correctional standards. When the prison closed, officials estimated approximately $5 million in restoration costs-a figure that would be exponentially higher today8.

The island has functioned as a major tourist destination since 1972, when Congress incorporated it into the Golden Gate National Recreation Area under National Park Service management86.

Political Reactions

Critics swiftly condemned the proposal. A spokesperson from California's Governor's Office dismissed the announcement as "distraction day again in Washington, D.C."6

State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, called the plan "absurd," noting the site "generates significant revenue for the federal government and supports many jobs"6. Wiener characterized the proposal as "part of Trump's ongoing crusade to sabotage the rule of law" and "a domestic gulag right in the middle of San Francisco Bay"6.

Representatives from the White House, Justice Department, FBI and Homeland Security did not immediately provide details on funding sources, projected costs, or implementation timelines when contacted by reporters3.