WASHINGTON, D.C.(Press Release) –U.S. Senator Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) sent a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner urging him to restore reliable mail service in South Dakota. Customers across the state are facing persistent delays, with letters and newspapers mailed within the state taking weeks to arrive.

“Feedback from my constituents is clear: USPS service has significantly declined across South Dakota,” said Rounds. “It is therefore clear to me that USPS’s operational changes are failing South Dakota and do not comply with USPS obligations for universal service under federal law.”

“P.S. I am emailing this to you because if I mailed it, you might not receive this letter in time,” concluded Rounds.

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 addition, Rounds first introduced the Postal Processing Protection Act in June 2024, legislation that would require USPS to consider consequences for rural areas during their closure or downsizing review process in order to protect rural mail processing facilities. Rounds recently reintroduced this legislation in the 119th Congress.

Earlier this year, Rounds introduced the Deliver for Democracy Act, which would protect rural newspapers and consumers from unjustified price hikes by making certain the Postal Service is held to a standard for on-time deliveries. Rounds is also the Senate lead on the InstitutingNotification Formalities on Reorganizing Mail (INFORM) Act of 2025, legislation to require the USPS to post a physical notice within impacted storefronts explaining any proposed changes in service.

Read the full text of the letter HERE or below.