(The Center Square) – Critics on Monday were quick to point out challenges to President Donald Trump’s call over the weekend to rebuild and reopen a prison the federal government closed in 60 years because it was too expensive to operate.
Trump said the former Alcatraz Island prison, now a tourist attraction run by the National Park Service in the San Francisco Bay, could serve as a symbol of law and order. But it has some drawbacks, including high operating costs and no source of fresh water on the island.
Trump said he directed the Federal Bureau of Prisons to “reopen a substantially enlarged and rebuilt” prison on the island to house America’s “most ruthless and violent Offenders.”
“For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That’s the way it’s supposed to be. No longer will we tolerate these Serial Offenders who spread filth, bloodshed, and mayhem on our streets.”
The president added: “We will no longer be held hostage to criminals, thugs, and Judges that are afraid to do their job and allow us to remove criminals, who came into our Country illegally. The reopening of ALCATRAZ will serve as a symbol of Law, Order, and JUSTICE.”
Critics pounced on the plan.
“Alcatraz closed as a federal penitentiary more than 60 years ago. It is now a very popular national park and major tourist attraction. The President’s proposal is not a serious one,” former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said.
California State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat, said he worried about Trump’s plans for the tourist site.
“In addition to being deeply unhinged, this is an attack on the rule of law,” Wiener said. “Putting aside that Alcatraz is a museum & tourist attraction, this is both nuts and terrifying.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons operated Alcatraz for 29 years. The government decided to close the prison in 1963 because of the high cost of repairing and operating the facility. At that time, the prison needed an estimated $3 million to $5 million for restoration and maintenance work to keep the prison open.
The island prison also cost three times more to operate than other federal prisons at time: In 1959 the daily per capita cost at Alcatraz was $10.10 compared with $3.00 at USP Atlanta, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
“The major expense was caused by the physical isolation of the island – the exact reason islands have been used as prisons throughout history. This isolation meant that everything (food, supplies, water, fuel…) had to be brought to Alcatraz by boat,” the Federal Bureau of Prisons noted. “For example, the island had no source of fresh water, so nearly one million gallons of water had to be barged to the island each week. The Federal Government found that it was more cost-effective to build a new institution than to keep Alcatraz open.”
The Federal Bureau of Prisons did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on the proposal and asking when the agency most recently considered using the island as a prison.
The National Park Service operates Alcatraz Island as tourist site. It is a designated National Historic Landmark. About 1.2 million people visit the prison each year, according to the National Park Service.
Alcatraz once served as a U.S. Army fort and later a federal penitentiary. It was home to notorious criminals like “Machine Gun Kelly,” “The Doc” and Chicago mobster Al Capone.
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