Rounds Issues Statement Following Release of USPS OIG Report on South Dakota Mail Service
Rounds requested OIG investigation in December 2025

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today issued a statement following the release of the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) report on the status of mail service in South Dakota. This investigation was requested by Rounds in December 2025. The report comes following USPS’s announcement that the Sioux Falls processing facility will be upgraded to a regional facility at Rounds’ request, keeping more intrastate mail in South Dakota.

“It’s encouraging and unsurprising that the Inspector General’s report studying the mail service in South Dakota shows evidence to back up what we’ve been hearing and seeing for years: the United States Postal Service is not adequately serving South Dakotans,” said Rounds. “We’ve heard from thousands of South Dakotans who have real concerns about their mail service. Veterans aren’t getting prescriptions on time, bills are arriving after they’re due and newspapers are old news by the time they make it to your doorstep. At the same time, Postal Service executives are receiving bonuses and airport lounge memberships while telling South Dakotans there are no problems. Today’s report states otherwise.

“I’m grateful to Inspector General Tammy Hull and her team for their thorough review process in South Dakota and their thoughtful recommendations for improvements,” continued Rounds. “I’m also grateful for all of the South Dakotans who have sent feedback and contributed to this report. We’ll be watching the USPS’s team closely to see if and how these recommendations are implemented, and whether they actually make meaningful improvements in delivery time. Until then, we’ll keep the pressure on and continue to fight for a return to service standards that not only meet but exceed expectations.”

Read the report HERE.

BACKGROUND:

Rounds has been a leader on USPS issues in South Dakota, leading the push to keep local processing facilities in South Dakota. In April 2024, Rounds sent a letter to USPS Postmaster General Louis DeJoy urging USPS to avoid downsizing or significantly reorganizing mail processing operations in South Dakota. As a result, in February 2025, USPS committed to keeping the Dakota Central processing facility in Huron open, as well as investing $3 million in improvements to the facility. Rounds also secured a commitment from former Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to keep mail that originates within South Dakota from leaving the state for processing.

In September 2025, Rounds sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging him to restore reliable mail service and requesting a meeting. Rounds and Steiner met in October. Steiner followed up on the meeting with a letter dismissing the issues raised by Rounds, claiming that the mail delays were caused by issues at processing facilities in Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City despite none of these facilities handling South Dakota’s intrastate mail. USPS leadership continues to deny any issues with South Dakota’s mail service despite the first-hand accounts from South Dakotans that say otherwise.

In December 2025, Rounds requested an investigation into persistent issues with USPS delivery in South Dakota. In April 2026, Rounds was notified that the Office of the Inspector General was on the ground in South Dakota to investigate mail service. In June 2026, Rounds sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs announcing his intention to place a hold on all USPS nominees until South Dakota’s issues are resolved. As a result, two Postal Service Board of Governors nominees were removed from the legislative calendar in August 2026.

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Gov. Rhoden Awards Behavioral Health Grants through RHT

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Rhoden announced 12 Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) modernization and infrastructure grants totaling more than $13 million. These grants are part of the Rural Health Transformation (RHT) funds and are specifically focused on behavioral health.

“Mental health is a key component of quality health care, so we’re investing in all aspects of healthcare in our rural communities, including behavioral health. South Dakotans in rural communities will have the resources they need to receive the care they deserve,” said Governor Larry Rhoden. “Thank you to the Trump Administration for the opportunity to expand access to behavioral health services in South Dakota through our Rural Health Transformation funds.”

These grants will strengthen behavioral health care by expanding provider capacity, building out crisis services, investing in IT infrastructure, and strengthening the workforce. The next round of funding is anticipated later this fall.

“The Trump Administration’s Rural Health Transformation Program is based on one simple idea: your access to quality health care shouldn’t depend on your ZIP code,” said Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. “Funding new approaches to advance technology and expand access to behavioral healthcare is a critical step toward achieving that vision for South Dakotans and I look forward to seeing RHTP investments drive equally transformative innovations for rural communities nationwide.”

The CCBHC model has been successfully implemented in many other states across the country. Governor Rhoden and the State of South Dakota seek to build on that success and expand access to critical behavioral health services for South Dakotans.

“The CCBHC model has been shown to make behavioral health care more accessible and more comprehensive,” said Department of Social Services Secretary Matt Althoff. “We are grateful for the cohort of providers who have entered this exploration. These readiness grants will assist providers as they build out services and strengthen health care access across our state.”

The CCBHC Cohort is made up of 13 agencies throughout the State of South Dakota. The Cohort was selected in April following an open application period. Selections were based on organizational readiness, geographical locations, and other factors.

Cohort members include Avera Behavioral Health, Brookings Behavioral Health and Wellness, Capital Area Counseling, Community Counseling Services, Dakota Counseling Institute, Human Service Agency, Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health, Northeastern Mental Health Center, Southeastern Directions for Life, Southern Plains Behavioral Health Services, Three Rivers Mental Health and Chemical Dependency Center, VOA – Dakotas, and West River Mental Health.

Governor Rhoden previously signed HB 1044 to appropriate funding for the RHT Program. You can find more information about Rural Health Transformation efforts in South Dakota here.

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(h/t to Fred Deutsch who was posting on this):

Caught this ad that was in local papers in District 4 from the Independent candidate running for office. Can’t say that I’ve ever seen a candidate running on a platform of “cut school funding.”   But this was a legislative district that managed to elect Dylan Jordan for a term, so if any district was going to generate a goofball candidate like this, it might be D4.

Teaching them durned kids how to turn on a computer? A pox on that house of lurnin!  And if you also happen to enjoy watching your kid play football or play in the band (or any extracurricular activity) that’s a no go with District 4 House Candidate Sam Froehlke as well.

In case you’re wondering about what is supposed to be provided, the State Constitution says “it shall be the duty of the Legislature to establish and maintain a general and uniform system of public schools wherein tuition shall be without charge, and equally open to all; and to adopt all suitable means to secure to the people the advantages and opportunities of education.” That’s a pretty broad mandate which gives a lot of latitude.

I also get the sense that he doesn’t have a clue that schools and counties have separate tax levies that aren’t contingent on one another. School districts can raise or lower property taxes on their own, and so can counties.

So, preparing children less for their adult lives isn’t going to have anything to do with a township getting a road grader.

Maybe Sam is the one who needs to spend a little more time in School. Because he needs a lot more education about how government works.

Thune on Permitting Reform: Democrats Need to Take Yes for an Answer

“[I]f you can build more, create more energy in this country, build more refineries, it makes that much energy more available and more affordable for the American people.”

Click here or on the picture to watch the video.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:

** Editor’s note – Good for Senator Thune! John gets it!  We need to be out there promoting domestic energy production. -pp

Governor Rhoden Announces Northrop Grumman As Anchor Tenant in Rapid City Defense Cluster

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Larry Rhoden advanced South Dakota’s growing national security industry by announcing support for a new defense cluster with Northrop Grumman as the anchor tenant. You can find a photo from the announcement here.

“National security is South Dakota’s next big industry, and today we’re putting action behind that commitment,” said Governor Rhoden. “When a world-class company like Northrop Grumman chooses to invest in our state, it sends a strong signal to the national security industry about their belief in the opportunities available in South Dakota. Our investment will help us build the infrastructure needed to support that growing national security industry. This is a key step to deliver on our mission to keep our state and nation strong, safe, and free.”

Governor Rhoden announced an investment of $1 million to support a new facility in the Rapid City Innovation District, which will establish a defense cluster in Rapid City. The first anchor tenant at the new facility will be Northrop Grumman, which is the manufacturer of the B-21 Raider. Additional companies will be added to the defense cluster in the future. This is part of Elevate Rapid City’s investment of $18 million in the Rapid City Innovation District to create space for new companies and jobs.

Northrop Grumman manufactures the B-21 Raider, which is the most high-tech bomber aircraft in the world. Northrop Grumman is a leader in the space, aeronautics, defense, and cybersecurity industries, and their mission is to “pioneer technologies at the edge of every frontier to connect, advance, and protect the U.S. and its allies.” Ellsworth Air Force Base in Box Elder will be the first home of the B-21 Raider, and that is estimated to take place next year.

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds, Elevate Rapid City, the South Dakota Ellsworth Development Authority, and the Governor’s Office of Economic Development all played instrumental roles in making this expansion possible.

“Northrop Grumman’s presence in the Innovation District is an important step in what we’re building in Rapid City,” said Jack Valentine, president and CEO of Elevate Rapid City. “This investment gives us the infrastructure to bring more defense companies, talent, and opportunities to the region and build on the momentum surrounding Ellsworth.”

This investment complements other national security initiatives Governor Rhoden has created, including the South Dakota Defense Institute and the Governor’s Resilience and Infrastructure Task Force. Together, these efforts are focused on strengthening the state’s defense ecosystem, supporting critical infrastructure, and creating opportunities for greater collaboration between industry, government, and education.

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The Dakota Scout story this afternoon is interesting in that it explores how Heather Baxter has come looking for the Governor’s endorsement after she endorsed someone else in that race. Twice:

“We have a Republican primary and a convention — I support the Republican ticket,” Gov. Larry Rhoden said this week, declining to offer a full-throated endorsement of GOP secretary of state candidate Heather Baxter.

and..

That Baxter did not back Rhoden at any time in the lead-up to the early June primary election and the subsequent runoff in late July could also be keeping Rhoden’s support of her candidacy tepid. She publicly endorsed House Speaker Jon Hansen before shifting her support to Aberdeen businessman Toby Doeden, whom Rhoden beat in the runoff.

and..

“The governor mentioned the primary is over; we had our disagreements and the past is over, and I took him at his word about that, so I believe the past endorsement I gave Hansen and Doeden is a nonissue for him and I,” she said.

Read that story here.

I’m sure the Governor is going to get right on that one.

Fundraiser for Governor Larry Rhoden coming up TOMORROW in Rapid City:

If you’re in the area, make sure you check it out!

Now there has been a day for things to settle from Secretary of State Monae Johnson’s endorsement of Terrence Davis for Secretary of State, I thought it would be interesting to look at the fallout from her monumental decision to cross party lines to endorse a Democrat for the office.

Unsuccessful GOP Gubernatorial primary candidate Toby Doeden was one of the few who decided to go off about it, via social media. Except it was a weird post where he compared Johnson’s rejection of Heather Baxter, and said it was just like Jon Hansen refusing to campaign for him:

Because, ultimately, it’s all about Toby, isn’t it?  The object of Toby’s ire, Jon Hansen also sprang to Baxter’s defense via facebook.

About an hour ago, fully one day later, the South Dakota Republican Party finally got around to posting a statement on facebook from the State Republican Party Executive Board.

I don’t think they sent it out to any media, they just posted it:

It basically says well, that’s who the delegates picked “wholeheartedly.” Wholeheartedly at 59% of the Republicans who went to convention. Which isn’t really representative of the Republican party statewide, just of the people who were in the room at that given moment.

For the Republican candidate herself, Baxter’s immediate response was to tell media that Party affiliation was what they needed to look at when making their choice:

In a statement, Baxter told POLITICO her party affiliation was reason enough to side with her in the general election.

“In June, Republican delegates considered the record and nominated me over incumbent Secretary of State Monae Johnson, 59 percent to 41 percent. That was not confusion,” she said. “That was self-government in action. The letter beside a name is not decoration.”

Read that here.

Well, I guess that’s one way to respond.

Promises Made, Promises Kept
By Sen. John Thune

At this time two years ago, with President Biden and Democrats in charge, our country was dealing with an inflation crisis and a historic immigration crisis. Democrats’ reckless spending contributed to the worst inflation in 40 years, and their open-border policies led to record-breaking illegal immigration. These were the hallmarks of President Biden and Democrats’ stint in power, and it’s no surprise that the American people voted for change.

Republicans’ top priorities when we came into office two years ago was addressing these crises. That started with preventing a massive tax hike on hardworking Americans – a tax hike that would have cost a typical South Dakota family $2,500. But because of Republicans’ landmark Working Families Tax Cuts, that tax hike never came. In fact, because of Republicans’ efforts, 97 percent of tax filers saw a tax cut this year, collectively saving $82 billion they otherwise would have had to send to the IRS.

Our efforts to help Americans keep more of their money didn’t stop with this landmark tax relief though. Republicans have also cut burdensome regulations that would have driven up prices for hardworking Americans. That includes repealing the California electric vehicle mandate, which would have forced Americans into costly electric cars. It also includes regulations that would have driven up the cost of appliances. We passed landmark legislation to keep Americans from being priced out of the housing market. And at the beginning of this year, we took action to drive down costs at the pharmacy counter, ensuring patients get the savings from any discounts or rebates in their health care plans.

Border security has also been a top priority for Republicans. President Trump took swift action to get the situation at our southern border under control, and the drop in illegal immigration has been staggering: a 90 percent decrease compared to the crisis of the Biden era. For 16 consecutive months, zero illegal immigrants were released from the border into the interior. These efforts have been aided by the support Republicans provided for border security in the Working Families Tax Cuts, funding that supports finishing the border wall, hiring more border agents, and deploying technology at the border, and the results speak for themselves.

Republicans have tackled the biggest problems from the Biden era. We’ve put more money in Americans’ pockets, worked to bring down costs, and ended the crisis at the southern border. But our work is not done. We have more on our to-do list, and hardworking Americans will continue to be at the top of Republicans’ agenda.

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Homegrown Solutions
By Rep. Dusty Johnson
September 18, 2026

BIG Update

Without water, not much else matters. Western South Dakota needs reliable access to water to support families, businesses, agriculture, and future economic growth. My bill to direct the Department of the Interior to study three proposed projects to deliver water to western South Dakota passed the House Natural Resources Committee this week. These studies are an important step toward meeting the region’s water needs and will give communities the information they need to plan for future growth. A federal feasibility study will provide detailed information about the potential benefits of bringing more water to West River. Earlier this spring, I testified in favor of this legislation before the Natural Resources Committee and I’m glad to see this bill move forward.

BIG Idea

Rising energy costs emphasize the need for homegrown options to fuel our economy. Biofuels give consumers a lower-cost option at the pump while supporting American farmers and strengthening our rural economy. I met with Growth Energy to discuss the importance of biofuels to South Dakota and the need to get year-round E15 across the finish line. The House has already passed year-round E15 with my support, and this week, the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced the Farm Bill with year-round E15 included. We should look to American producers to meet more of our energy needs and make the most of the resources we have right here at home.

Johnson meets with Growth Energy

BIG News

This week, House Republicans made federal fraud enforcement permanent. I voted to codify the Department of Justice’s efforts to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud. Every tax dollar lost to fraud is taken from someone the program was actually meant to help. Common-sense protections and accountability measures ensure federal dollars are not stolen from taxpayers. More than $280 billion in COVID relief funds were potentially stolen, while another $123 billion was wasted or misspent. The House has already passed legislation to prevent fraud before dollars go out the door, and now we are further empowering law enforcement to investigate and prosecute acts of fraud.

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