Rushmore State News

U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, has announced the committee’s approval of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. The legislation now moves to the full Senate for consideration.

“The NDAA is a critical piece of legislation passed each year which authorizes funding for our national security, as well as our servicemembers and their families,” said Rounds. “We were glad to secure many wins for South Dakota, including $378 million for construction projects at Ellsworth to prepare for the B-21, $28 million for the Watertown Army National Guard vehicle maintenance facility and $3.4 billion for procurement of B-21 aircraft. The NDAA also authorizes funding to support a 3.8 percent raise for military members."

Rounds reflected on his time as Governor of South Dakota and his commitment to supporting military personnel: “When I was working as Governor of South Dakota, and subsequently Commander in Chief of our National Guard units, I attended several send-off ceremonies and welcome home celebrations. I also attended 31 funerals for those who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country. As a result, I made a pledge that I would do everything in my power to make certain our men and women in uniform never enter a fair fight, always having the advantage over their adversaries. This year’s NDAA keeps the U.S. ahead of the curve and takes care of our men and women in uniform who fight every day to protect our freedoms. I look forward to working with Leader Thune and my colleagues in the Senate to get this legislation passed and signed into law.”

Key provisions secured by Rounds include full authorization for the B-21 Raider program with significant investments at Ellsworth Air Force Base such as flight simulators, alert facilities, environmental protection shelters, and aprons. The bill also provides funds for military construction projects related to B-21 operations.

Additional measures include $28 million allocated for an Army National Guard vehicle maintenance shop in Watertown and updates aimed at improving partnerships between South Dakota universities or companies with the Department of Defense through new Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities (SCIF). Changes were made so that states like South Dakota are given priority when new partners are added under the State Partnership Program.

The legislation modifies grant eligibility rules within education infrastructure programs to improve access for South Dakota schools while addressing delays affecting veterans’ records by requiring action from Navy Personnel Command.

On national defense issues beyond South Dakota, Rounds helped secure provisions safeguarding defense spectrum resources from commercial interference; authorizing research funding into advanced manufacturing techniques; creating roadmaps and steering committees focused on artificial intelligence integration; protecting leadership structures between key cyber agencies; granting authority to defend critical infrastructure; improving training plans for bomber crews; modernizing cyber policies including zero trust implementation by December 2025; supporting pay flexibility among cyber personnel; providing civilian pathways into defense roles; strengthening oversight within cyber policy offices; facilitating foreign military sales processes; increasing mutual support among reserve components' cyber missions.

Other supported elements include prohibitions on DOD-funded sex change surgeries for personnel, additional funding toward munitions procurement effectively doubling last year's budget allocation, expansion efforts within naval shipbuilding programs such as adding destroyers along with wage improvements across shipyards building surface vessels.

Measures also focus on integrating large language models into translation efforts while setting restrictions against Chinese-developed AI tools like DeepSeek being used on DOD systems or by contractors.

Rounds was recently recognized as one of the most effective senators regarding defense matters during this Congress.