President Donald Trump on Friday requested $152 million from Congress to begin rebuilding Alcatraz Island, advancing plans to return the former federal prison to active use.

The funding, included in the White House’s proposed 2027 budget, would cover the first phase of transforming the San Francisco Bay site into what officials describe as a “state-of-the-art secure prison facility.”

Trump has pushed for reopening Alcatraz since last year, framing the move as part of a tougher approach to crime. In a prior social media post, he called for a “substantially enlarged and rebuilt” prison capable of housing the nation’s most dangerous offenders.

The request is part of a broader Justice Department budget focused on expanding prison capacity and strengthening law enforcement, though final approval rests with Congress.

According to Axios, administration officials estimate that a full “supermax” facility on the island would likely need to be built from the ground up, with total costs potentially reaching $2 billion.

Alcatraz originally opened as a federal penitentiary in 1934 and became known as one of the most secure prisons in the country due to its isolation and the strong currents surrounding the island. It housed notorious criminals, including Al Capone, and held a relatively small inmate population.

The prison gained lasting notoriety after a 1962 escape by three inmates, later popularized in the film Escape from Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood. It was closed in 1963 after officials determined operating costs were significantly higher than those of other federal prisons, largely due to the need to transport all supplies, including fresh water, to the island.

Since the 1970s, Alcatraz has been managed by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and now draws more than one million visitors annually.

The White House argues that rebuilding the site would modernize federal prison infrastructure and expand capacity for high-risk inmates. Critics, however, have raised concerns about the cost and feasibility of reconstructing a facility on the island, as well as the impact on a major historical and tourist landmark.

Federal agencies have already conducted feasibility studies, but no final decision has been made. Any effort to move forward is expected to face political scrutiny amid competing budget priorities.