BOP Suspends Operations at FCI Terminal Island Over Falling Concrete, Begins Inmate Transfers

Nearly 1,000 men will be moved to other federal prisons with priority given to placements near their anticipated release locations. Officials report that chunks of concrete in underground steam tunnels threaten the heating system and could trigger an emergency if lines rupture. Director William K. Marshall III told staff the step was preventive, saying, "We are not going to wait for a crisis" and emphasizing worker and inmate safety. A 2024 assessment identified more than $110 million in critical repairs at the 1930s-era facility, which houses Sam Bankman-Fried and Michael Avenatti. The suspension highlights broader Bureau of Prisons strains, including a multibillion-dollar repair backlog, severe staffing shortages and recent closures.