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topicnews · July 17, 2025

Trump Administration confirms plans for the reopening of Alcatraz

Trump Administration confirms plans for the reopening of Alcatraz


San Francisco, CA – March 9th: Alcatraz Island can be seen from the Bay from the Bay on Monday, March 9, 2020 (Jane Tyska/Digital First Media/East Bay Times about Getty Images)

Interior Minister Doug Burgum confirmed on Thursday that the Trump government will start working to repair and reopen the notorious prison in Alcatraz.

Burgum made the announcement on x, shortly after he and the US general prosecutor Pam Bondi had visited the island.

“Looked the day on Alcatraz Island, A [National Park Service] Location to start the work to renovate and reopen the site to accommodate the most dangerous criminals and illegals, “said Burgum.

President Donald Trump called for the reopening of the dilapidated prison in May to accommodate the “ruthless and most violent criminals” of the nation. William Marshall, director of the Bureau of Prison, visited the island in the same month and announced Fox News at the time that he was “confident” that the island could be reopened as a prison.

Californian leaders react

What you say:

The proposal received sharp rages from several prominent California politicians who criticized the logistics and livelihood of the plan.

The spokesman Emerita Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco) said on Thursday that the efforts to reopen the infamous prison were a “distracting tactic” to avert the focus of the Americans from Trump's youngest “big, beautiful bill”.

Pelosi also questioned how the administration would take the bill for the repairs that were estimated at almost 1 billion US dollars.

“It remains to be seen how this government could possibly pretend to convert and maintain Alcatraz as a prison if you are already adding trillion dollars to public debt with your sinful law,” said Pelosi.

Gaverneur Gavin Newsom's office repeated feelings by referring the proposal as “Detention Day in Washington, DC”, and mocked the Trump government's plan on Thursday.

“Pam Bondi will reopen Alcatraz on the same day as Trump publishes the Epstein files. So … never,” said Newsom's office in a prepared explanation.

The story:

The prison in Alcatraz was closed in 1963 due to its high operating costs in connection with its remote location in the Bay of San Francisco and the deterioration of many of its structures.

A decade later it was reopened as part of the National Park Service and is now part of the Golden Gate Recreation Area, which was founded in 1972 by the Congress. It has been in the land brand in San Francisco tourist for decades since then.

According to the National Park Service, Alcatraz generates annual turnover of around 60 million US dollars.

The source: Interior Minister Doug Burgum, former KTVU reporting

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