Trump Administration Moves to Reopen Alcatraz Prison 62 Years After Its Closure

President Donald Trump’s administration is moving forward with plans to reopen the infamous Alcatraz prison, more than six decades after it was shut down due to high maintenance costs and deteriorating conditions.

On Thursday, July 17, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited the historic prison island in San Francisco Bay to assess the facility. Following their tour, the White House confirmed that the administration is initiating plans to restore and expand the site into a high-security prison for what it calls “the most dangerous criminals and illegals.”

“Spent the day on Alcatraz Island, a National Park Service site, to start the work to renovate and reopen the site,” Burgum posted on X. “This administration is restoring safety, justice, and order to our streets. The Department of the Interior and The Justice Department are following a directive by the president to help lead that mission.”

Alcatraz, originally constructed in the 1850s and converted into a federal penitentiary in 1933, held some of America’s most notorious inmates before being shut down in 1963. Since then, it has operated as a museum and National Historic Landmark — but its infrastructure has continued to decay.

Photos taken this year show the prison’s deteriorating interiors: rusted fixtures, cracked walls, water-damaged sinks, and outdated plumbing. The Bureau of Prisons notes that Alcatraz cost nearly three times more to operate than other facilities due to its remote location and lack of fresh water supply, which had to be delivered by boat.

The Trump administration’s move follows the opening of another controversial facility — dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” — in Florida’s Everglades earlier this month. That detention center, meant for ICE detainees, is surrounded by dangerous wildlife and natural swampland to deter escape.

Alcatraz, isolated in the middle of San Francisco Bay, similarly offers a natural barrier — a detail the administration sees as an asset in a time of renewed focus on law-and-order policies.

While the exact timeline and cost estimates remain undisclosed, the announcement signals a bold revival of one of America’s most iconic — and controversial — prisons.