Mike Rounds

South Dakota Republican who co-wrote the UAP Disclosure Act with Schumer in 2023 and has re-offered it to each defense bill since.

Current role: U.S. Senator for South Dakota (R); member of the Armed Services, Intelligence and Appropriations committees; Senate co-author of the UAP Disclosure Act; on the ballot 3 November 2026

Former roles:

Governor of South Dakota (2003–2011)

Background

Former two-term governor of South Dakota and U.S. Senator since 2015, sitting on the Armed Services, Intelligence and Appropriations committees (Wikipedia). He is the Republican co-author of the UAP Disclosure Act with Sen. Schumer, introduced in July 2023 and re-offered in 2025 and 2026. He talks about the subject in measured terms, saying there are cases he cannot explain and information that has been "improperly withheld" while also saying he has seen no "smoking gun". He won his June 2026 primary with 75.8% and faces independent Brian Bengs in November (South Dakota Searchlight).

On the record

2026-06-17 (published 2026-10-30) – written answers to Douglas Dean Johnson – asked whether he has heard credible reports of murders to silence UAP disclosures, whether he has suggested informants face physical danger, whether other senators have suggested it, and whether he believes informants risk violence: "NO." to each. Johnson
2026-09-26 – Ask a Pol – asked whether China shut down Langley AFB for 17 days in 2023: "I can't talk about that right now." On adversary capability: "they don't keep me or members of our [Intelligence] Committee awake at night, but I suspect we keep them awake at night." Ask a Pol
2026-08-08 – Ask a Pol – told his Act was in the House-passed NDAA: "No, I hadn't heard that." then "I hope so. I hope so. I think we've done everything we can to keep it in". He had not reviewed the PURSUE files: "We've been busy on other stuff. No." Ask a Pol
2026-06-26 – Ask a Pol – on Senate strategy: "We're going to introduce it. Put it as an amendment on the NDAA. Hopefully, the Senate will agree with us to do so." and "This is one way to find out — offer it again and then find out who will object to it." Ask a Pol
2026-06-24 – Senate – S.Amdt.6344, the Senate UAP Disclosure Act, submitted with Schumer to S. 4784. Cloture on the motion to proceed failed 50–46 on 14 July; no floor action since. congress.gov · CRS
2026-06-10 – Ask a Pol – the Act and the White House declassification "can still work in tandem"; "I just want to make sure that if we are releasing stuff, none of it has to do with anything that would impact our national security". Ask a Pol
2026-03-15 – Ask a Pol – "NDAA's coming up again. That would be the appropriate place, so..." and "But I have not talked to Senator Schumer about it." Ask a Pol
2025-12-18 – Ask a Pol – asked if he knew who removed the Act from the FY2026 NDAA: "I do not." and "I thought it was House that had the disagreements?" Ask a Pol
2025-07-19 – Ask a Pol – said some whistleblowers had worked on materials "they did not know what it was from", speculating some may derive from U.S. stealth programs while stressing he "just simply doesn't know" their origin. Ask a Pol
2025-07-01 – NewsNation, with Ross Coulthart – confirmed he would push to reintroduce the Act; said some UAP information "has been improperly withheld" and "there are things out there that we cannot explain", while adding he had seen no "smoking gun". Video
2025-02-23 – Ask a Pol – asked if he would offer the Act again when the NDAA resumed: "Yes....At least I intend to." Ask a Pol
2023-07-14 – press release with Schumer – co-introduced the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023 as an NDAA amendment, modelled on the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act. Senate Democrats · S.Amdt.797

Responses and criticism

2026-01-03 – Liberation Times, citing unnamed sources, blamed Sen. McConnell's office for stripping the Act from the FY2026 NDAA, which conflicts with Rounds' guess that the House was responsible and with Rep. Burlison's "Senate Approps staff" account. McConnell's office did not respond. Liberation Times
2025-12-16 – Senate Appropriations Chair Susan Collins, asked about the Act: "I don't know. Never heard of it." Ask a Pol

Timeline of involvement

2015-01-03 – takes office in the Senate
2023-07-14 – co-introduces the UAP Disclosure Act with Schumer
2023-12-22 – FY2024 NDAA enacted with a reduced version
2025-07-31 – Act reintroduced for the FY2026 NDAA
2025-12-18 – FY2026 NDAA enacted without the Act
2026-06-02 – wins the South Dakota Republican primary
2026-06-24 – S.Amdt.6344 filed with Schumer
2026-07-14 – Senate cloture on the NDAA fails; amendment pending
2026-11-03 – general election

Relevant links

Part of the Key People in Disclosure series. Verified 2026-11-02. Spotted an error? Reach out.