Senators: Pull Funding for the $505 Million Prison in Kentucky!

Despite opposition from local residents, advocates, and leaders across party lines, the threat of a massive new federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky is still very real. This $505 million project — the most expensive federal prison proposal in U.S. history — refuses to die.

But right now, Congress has a simple and powerful opportunity: rescind the funding and stop this prison from being built once and for all.

At a time when the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is facing urgent and well-documented challenges, building a new prison is not only wasteful — it’s counterproductive.

Here’s what we know:

The BOP operates 122 institutions comprising more than 3,600 buildings — many of which are in a state of disrepair. The agency estimates it needs $3 billion just to address critical infrastructure problems in its existing facilities.
The BOP is also grappling with a serious staffing crisis. According to testimony by Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey, the agency is short more than 4,000 correctional officers, putting pressure on safety, rehabilitation programs, and basic operations.
And yet, this project proposes spending over half a billion dollars to build an entirely new facility — a decision that defies both logic and fiscal responsibility.

We don’t need more prisons that will expand a broken system that disproportionately incarcerates Black, Brown, and low-income people. We need better conditions, adequate staffing, and real investments in alternatives to incarceration.

Tell Congress: Rescind the funding for the proposed Letcher Prison and invest in fixing what’s broken — not building more of the same.

P.S. You don’t need to live in Kentucky to take action. This is a federal project, funded by your tax dollars, and it could incarcerate people from anywhere in the country — separating them from their families, communities, and opportunities for reentry.

Take action now!

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Dear Senator,

I am writing to urge you to rescind funding for the proposed federal prison in Letcher County, Kentucky — a deeply flawed project that stands in stark opposition to fiscal responsibility and sound correctional policy.

Despite long-standing concerns from criminal justice experts, advocates, and members of the public, this project continues to move forward, proposing to spend more than $505 million on building a new federal facility — the most expensive of its kind in U.S. history.

At a time when the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is facing urgent, well-documented challenges, constructing a new prison is not only wasteful — it is counterproductive.

Here’s what’s at stake:

The BOP operates 122 institutions, comprising over 3,600 buildings, many of which are in serious disrepair. The agency estimates that $3 billion is needed to address critical infrastructure issues in its existing facilities.
Meanwhile, the agency is also grappling with a severe staffing crisis. According to congressional testimony by Associate Deputy Director Kathleen Toomey, the BOP is currently short more than 4,000 correctional officers, undermining safety, operations, and rehabilitation efforts across the system.
Redirecting over half a billion dollars toward new construction — instead of fixing what’s broken — defies both logic and fiscal prudence.

This is not a partisan issue. The prison population is declining, and leaders across the political spectrum recognize that true public safety is built through strong communities and meaningful alternatives to incarceration — not by expanding a strained system.

I urge you to reject this unnecessary and costly project by rescinding its funding. Let’s invest in the real priorities: repairing existing facilities, addressing staffing shortages, and supporting evidence-based programs that actually improve outcomes for individuals, families, and communities.

Thank you for your consideration.