Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Alcatraz Island today to advance President Trump’s controversial proposal to reopen the historic federal prison. Their tour and expected announcement mark the latest effort in Trump’s drive to restore the site as a detention facility for high-risk offenders.
In a Truth Social post earlier this month, Trump shared: “I saw a picture of ALCATRAZ looking so foreboding, and I said, We’re going to look into renovating and rebuilding the famous ALCATRAZ Prison sitting high on the Bay, surrounded by sharks… What a symbol it is, and will be!'”
Bondi, who has faced scrutiny from Trump loyalists over her handling of the Epstein files, used the trip to reinforce Trump’s “law and order” platform. In a statement on X, she described the visit as “a great morning at Alcatraz… Making America Safe Again.” Burgum added that work has begun “to renovate and reopen the site to house the most dangerous criminals and illegals.”
The proposal faces immediate opposition. Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi labeled it “the Trump Administration’s stupidest initiative yet,” promising to block any legislative attempts to strip Alcatraz of environmental protections and transfer control from the National Park Service.
San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie said there’s “no realistic plan” to repurpose the island into a prison and urged federal funds be redirected toward public safety and economic recovery. California state Sen. Scott Wiener warned the plan risks turning Alcatraz into a “gulag to hold the political prisoners ICE is sweeping off the streets.”
Critics also highlight the steep costs. Alcatraz, a National Park tourist site generating about $60 million annually, would require over $1 billion in renovations to resume prison operations. Closed in 1963 due to high expenses, converting the facility back into a secure detention center would be a costly and politically contentious endeavor
