The Trump administration is moving forward with plans to reopen Alcatraz Island as a federal prison, a proposal reportedly ordered by former President Donald Trump in May. On July 17, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum visited Alcatraz in San Francisco to announce the initiative. The plan aims to convert the notorious former penitentiary into a modern detention facility. The announcement follows months of speculation about the reopening. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi criticized the plan, calling it the Trump administration's "stupidest initiative yet." The visit and forthcoming announcement have drawn significant attention as the administration seeks to revive the federal prison on the San Francisco Bay island.