Alcatraz to reopen as prison

The proposal aims to transform the historic site into a maximum-security jail for high-profile federal inmates, a move the administration argues is necessary for national security.

Critics have slammed the plan as a costly real estate venture and a potential misuse of public funds during a time of economic uncertainty.

The reopening of Alcatraz would require significant structural overhauls to meet modern prison standards, leading to questions about the project's feasibility.

As the request moves to Congress, the plan has become a flashpoint for debate over the administration's approach to criminal justice and infrastructure spending.