Why Alcatraz Island was abruptly closed to tourists this week

LocalPolitics
21 Apr 2026 • 6:49 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Why Alcatraz Island was abruptly closed to tourists this week

  • Alcatraz Island has abruptly closed to tourists from Monday to Friday for dock repairs, with all scheduled tours being refunded.
  • This closure comes weeks after Donald Trump demanded more than $150 million to reopen the infamous prison facility.
  • Trump's administration's 2027 budget proposal seeks $152 million for the restoration of Alcatraz, which he suggested could house “vicious, violent, and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society”.
  • California Governor Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi strongly criticised Trump's proposal, with Newsom calling it a “colossally bad fiscal idea”.
  • Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary originally closed in 1963 due to its high operational costs, being three times more expensive than other federal prisons because of its isolated location.

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