Senator Mike Rounds from South Dakota has exceeded all his Senate colleagues in office travel expenses since 2017, surpassing even those from distant states like Alaska and Hawaii.
His preference for chartering private flights over commercial ones has significantly contributed to this expense. Several aviation companies used by Rounds are owned by individuals who have contributed to his political campaigns.
Rounds’ travel costs are publicly documented as he sought taxpayer reimbursement for these trips. Federal legislators typically receive reimbursements for travel deemed essential for official duties. They also benefit from a reduced airfare program designed to economize taxpayer funds.
Despite these limitations, oversight of Senate office travel is minimal, and there are few penalties for legislators misusing reimbursements. There are no records of Rounds facing investigation or penalties for his travel spending.
Overall, Rounds’ office has incurred $5.1 million in travel costs over the past nine years. In fiscal year 2024 alone, $752,577 was spent on travel, nearly 20% of his office’s annual budget.
Comparatively, Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski’s office reported $2.8 million in travel expenses during the same nine-year timeframe.
The majority of Rounds’ chartered flights were through Mustang Aviation, situated in Pierre, SD, owned by Jim Peitz, who contributed $4,000 to Rounds’ campaigns from 2017 to 2019.
Additionally, Cathy Peitz, Jim’s wife, donated $1,000 to Rounds in 2013.
Pierre lacks direct flights to Washington, D.C., but it offers commercial flights with connections that can reach the capital in about six hours.
Rounds’ office has also spent $52,000 with Aberdeen Flying Service in Aberdeen, SD. This company promotes “plus, comfortable seating” and “a welcoming variety of refreshments” and is owned by Mark Craven, who donated $1,000 to Rounds this year.
In a related legislative move, Rounds supported the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year, which included a clause allowing corporations to deduct the full cost of certain qualifying assets, like private jets for business use.
According to a 2022 Newsweek report, Rounds often utilized a temporary COVID-era provision allowing private flights for health reasons, yet he missed 20 Senate votes in 2022.
Conversely, John Thune, the other senator from South Dakota, did not miss any votes that year. KOTA reported that Rounds’ spending on private flights exceeded Thune’s by a factor of six between October 2021 and September 2022.
Rounds is currently campaigning for a third term, facing off against independent candidate Brian Bengs, a U.S. Navy and Air Force veteran.
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