National Security

Protecting our nation through a strong defense system is a fundamental role of the federal government. We must remain steadfast in our ability to protect ourselves from enemies at home and abroad. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), my priority is to make sure our military remains the best in the world. To achieve this, our military must be adequately funded, trained and equipped with state-of-the-art technology.

South Dakota is home to Ellsworth Air Force Base, which has been named as the first home of the B-21 Raider bomber. As we prepare for its arrival, I’m continuing to advocate for funding for not only the project itself, but construction at Ellsworth and development of the surrounding area. This will help make certain that Box Elder and the Douglas School District are adequately prepared for all of the families that will call Ellsworth home after the B-21 arrives.

In the 117th Congress, I was named the second most effective Republican in the Senate on Defense issues. I am committed to continued success in getting results for our national defense.

My Latest Work On National Security

Rounds, Daines, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Prohibit DHS from Releasing Migrants with Terrorism Ties into the U.S.

Rounds, Manchin Legislation to Provide Back Pay to Military Officers Impacted by Holds Passes With Committee Version of FY25 NDAA

Rounds, Risch, Colleagues Demand Answers for Biden Admin’s Release of Terror Watchlist Suspects into U.S.

Rounds Secures National Defense Victories in Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA Passed by Committee

Rounds, Manchin File Resolution to Condemn ICC Prosecutor’s Filing of Arrest Warrant for Prime Minister Netanyahu

Rounds Leads Colleagues in Urging Biden to Tackle Fentanyl Crisis During Meeting with Xi

Rounds, Scott and Colleagues Urge Biden Administration to Confront China’s Influence on U.S. Financial System

Following Push from Rounds and Rosen, Additional Iron Dome Systems Heading to Israel

Rounds, Scott Introduce Bill to Strengthen CFIUS Review Process, Protect American Land

Rounds, Rosen Lead Bipartisan Push in Requesting Additional Iron Dome Systems for Israel

Rounds, Manchin Introduce Bill to Combat Illegal Activity at Southern Border

Rounds Secures South Dakota Victories in Senate NDAA

Senate Passes Rounds Amendment to Ban China, Russia, North Korea and Iran from Buying American Farmland and Agricultural Businesses

Rounds Questions Top General About Woke DOD Policies that Forced Young Female SD National Guard Recruit to Shower with Biological Males

Rounds Secures South Dakota Victories in Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA Passed by Committee

Rounds, Manchin, Graham and Blumenthal Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Transfer Illicit Assets to Aid Ukraine

Rounds, Manchin Lead Bipartisan, Bicameral Letter Urging Investments to Modernize Marines

Rounds, Cornyn and Colleagues Introduce Bill to Reform Security Classification System

Rounds, Manchin Call for Increased Accountability of China’s Role in Opioid Crisis

Rounds Secures South Dakota National Guard Meal Entitlements

Rounds-Hirono Spectrum Auction Authority Extension Blocked on Senate Floor, Authority Expires Tonight

Rounds, Hirono Introduce Legislation Extending Spectrum Auction Authority Until End of Fiscal Year, Protecting National Security

Rounds, Wicker and Armed Services Republicans Challenge Pentagon Abortion Rule

Rounds Questions Witnesses on the Dangers of Foreign Adversaries Owning American Farmland and Agricultural Businesses

Rounds, Tester Lead Legislation to Blacklist Foreign Adversaries from Buying American Farmland and Agricultural Businesses

Rounds Secures Key Committee Memberships for 118th Congress

Rounds Secures Victories for South Dakota in Annual Defense Bill

Rounds: B-21 Raider Bomber to be Publicly Unveiled in December

Rounds, Tuberville and Colleagues Call on Leader Schumer to Safeguard National Security by Voting on NDAA

Rounds Issues Statement Supporting NATO Accession of Finland and Sweden

Rounds Visits B-21 Production Facility, Provides Update

Rounds and Republican Colleagues Tell President Biden: An Iran Agreement Without Broad Congressional Support Will Not Survive

Rounds, Rosen Lead Bipartisan Letter to Homeland Security Secretary Requesting Information on Efforts to Protect the United States from Russian Cyber Threats

Senate Passes NDAA, Including Rounds’ South Dakota Priorities

Rounds on Senate Floor: President Biden owns the Afghanistan debacle and history will not judge him kindly

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce the Afghanistan Counterterrorism, Oversight and Accountability Act

Rounds Presses Secretary of State on Lack of Strategy in Afghanistan Withdrawal Decision, Pushes for Plan Moving Forward

ICYMI: Rounds on Fox News: President Biden Made a Very Serious Mistake That Cost American Lives

Rounds, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan Bill that Would Require Public Disclosure of Highly Toxic Chemicals at Military Installations

Rounds Statement on Confirmation of Frank Kendall III as the United States Air Force Secretary

Rounds, Colleagues Urge Senate Appropriations Committee to Support Israel’s Iron Dome

Rounds, Banking Republicans Oppose Treasury Nominees Over Nord Stream II AG

Rounds Statement on Committee Approval of National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

Rounds Congratulates Yankton School District for Being Awarded 2021 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

Rounds, Inhofe, Duckworth Introduce RETAIN GPS Act

Rounds, Gillibrand Lead Bipartisan Push To Fully Fund U.S-Israel Missile Defense Cooperation

Rounds: Ellsworth AFB Officially Named First Home of the B-21 Raider Bomber

Rounds, Colleagues Urge President Biden to Stand with Israel and Reject Iran Sanction Relief

Rounds, Sinema Propose “McCain-Mansfield Fellowship” for Wounded Warriors

Rounds, Blackburn Introduce Legislation Preventing Unilateral Deal with Iranian Regime

Rounds, Shaheen Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Alert Veterans & Service Members Exposed to PFAS Contaminants

Rounds, Inhofe Introduce Asylum Abuse Reduction Act

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Iran Sanctions Resolution

Rounds Secures Five Key Committee Memberships for 117th Congress

Rounds Supports Legislation to Establish Election Integrity Commission

Rounds Votes to Confirm General Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense

Annual Defense Bill Headed to President’s Desk, Includes a Number of South Dakota Priorities

Rounds Statement on Inclusion of National Cyber Director in NDAA Conference Report

Rounds, Colleagues Lead Effort to Punish Criminals for Targeting Law Enforcement Officers

Nine South Dakota Students Nominated by Rounds Starting at U.S. Service Academies

Rounds, Graham, Capito Introduce Legislation to Move PPE Supply Chain From China to the United States

FY 2021 NDAA Passes Senate with Rounds Support, Includes a Number of South Dakota Priorities

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Allow Americans to Sue China over COVID-19 Pandemic

Senate Armed Services Committee Approves National Defense Authorization Act with Rounds’ Support

Sioux Falls Student Julia Lair Receives Offer of Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy

Rounds, 17 Colleagues Reintroduce Bill to Protect Military Families’ Second Amendment Rights

Sioux Falls Student Receives Offer of Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy

Harrisburg Student Receives Offer of Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy

Sioux Falls Student Receives Fully Qualified Offers of Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Military Academy

Rounds, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Stop Greenlighting Driver Licenses for Illegal Immigrants

Rapid City Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Air Force Academy

Brookings High School Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy

Pierre Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Military Academy at West Point

Lennox High School Student Receives Fully Qualified Offer of Appointment to U.S. Naval Academy

Rounds Statement on Senate Confirmation of Barbara Barrett to be Secretary of the Air Force

Rounds, Rosen Introduce Bipartisan US-Israel Cybersecurity Center of Excellence Act

Rounds Questions Defense Secretary Nominee Mark Esper at Confirmation Hearing

Ten South Dakota Students Nominated by Rounds to Begin Studies at U.S. Service Academies