July 25, 2025
Armstrong applauds signing of HALT Fentanyl Act at White House ceremony with President Trump
Governor co-sponsored earlier version of the bill while serving in Congress
Gov. Kelly Armstrong joined President Donald Trump at the White House for the signing of the HALT Fentanyl Act, which places fentanyl-related substances under the same strict controls as other Schedule 1 drugs such as heroin. Armstrong was an original co-sponsor of an earlier version of the bill introduced in the 117th Congress in 2022.
The HALT (Halt All Lethal Trafficking of) Fentanyl Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to permanently classify illicit fentanyl knockoffs as Schedule 1 narcotics. The first Trump administration temporarily restricted all fentanyl-related substances in 2018 by issuing a temporary Schedule 1 classification, which Congress has since extended several times. The bill signed today makes the classification permanent, while still allowing for the FDA-approved use of Schedule II fentanyl for legitimate medical purposes.
The HALT Fentanyl Act also streamlines the registration process to allow more scientists to study fentanyl-related substances, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The committee’s chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, introduced the bill with Sens. Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Martin Heinrich, D-N.M. The bill was led in the House by Reps. Morgan Griffith, R-Va., and Robert Latta, R-Ohio.
“Fentanyl is killing North Dakotans in communities across our state. Classifying fentanyl-related substances as a Schedule 1 drug will close off dangerous loopholes that can be exploited by traffickers, treating the drug with the severity it deserves,” Armstrong said. “I was proud to work with Rep. Griffith and Rep. Latta on this bill during my time in the House, and I thank them for getting it through this Congress. Thank you to President Trump and the White House for inviting me to the bill signing.”
 Gov. Armstrong issued the following statement regarding the passing of Dr. Tom Strinden, husband of Lt. Gov. Michelle Strinden. Tom Strinden passed peacefully Sunday, July 13, at their family lake home, surrounded by his loving family following a 17-month battle against brain cancer.
“Tom valiantly fought cancer the same way he lived his life – with an unshakable faith in his savior Jesus Christ and an unwavering commitment to his family,” Armstrong said. “Tom was Michelle’s biggest fan, encouraging her to enter public service and supporting her journey to the Legislature and lieutenant governor’s office. Even after his cancer diagnosis and initial surgery, he returned to his work as a gifted eye surgeon who cared deeply about his patients and improving their quality of life. From coaching and supporting hockey programs to hunting and fishing with his kids, to making regular medical mission trips around the globe, Tom lived life to the fullest – with the happiness of others always his top priority. Our hearts go out to Michelle, Jacob, Joe, Ben, Sarah, and the entire Strinden and Strecker families. We ask all North Dakotans to pray for them as they grieve this enormous loss.”
 Armstrong helps officially open the 60th North Dakota State Fair, recognize support for Air Base
Gov. Armstrong helped kick off the 60th North Dakota State Fair on July 18 with a ceremony marking the official opening of the fair's Grandstand. The event also helped recognize Minot as a 2025 Great American Defense Community.
The honor, presented by the Association of Defense Communities (ADC), celebrates Minot’s unwavering support for Minot Air Force Base, its mission and, most importantly, the personnel who live and work there.
“This recognition reinforces what we’ve long known – Minot’s commitment to Minot Air Force Base is second to none. From housing and education to civic pride and daily support, this community leads by example,” Armstrong said. “North Dakota is proud to stand behind our servicemembers while continuing to ensure they feel at home as North Dakota strives to be the most military-friendly state in the nation.”
A short ceremony took place at the Grandstand just before multi-platinum country music star Bailey Zimmerman took the stage. A B-52 flyover, courtesy of the 5th Bomb Wing, soared above a standing crowd as leadership from the Minot Area Chamber EDC, Minot Air Force Base, the City of Minot and a delegation from ADC joined Zimmerman on stage to highlight the community's military commitment.
Gov. Armstrong submitted a request for a presidential major disaster declaration for severe storms that impacted the state June 20-21, producing more than 20 tornadoes and straight-line winds that caused widespread public damage preliminarily estimated at nearly $11.5 million.
“The destructive power of the storm system that ripped across our state on June 20-21 was unlike anything North Dakotans have seen in recent history – and hopefully something we’ll never see again,” Armstrong said. “Our citizens, volunteers, first responders, utility providers and emergency managers mobilized quickly to help their communities recover physically from the storm, and now they need assistance to recover financially. We appreciate the administration considering this presidential disaster request to help alleviate the burden of this historic event.”
Armstrong declared a statewide disaster on June 21 in response to the storms, which resulted in four storm-related deaths, knocked out power to nearly 37,000 people, toppled thousands of trees and caused significant damage to utilities, grain bins, homes and other private property.
The request made Monday through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) seeks a presidential major disaster declaration for 19 counties: Barnes, Burleigh, Cass, Eddy, Emmons, Foster, Grant, Griggs, Kidder, McLean, Morton, Oliver, Ransom, Sheridan, Sioux, Steele, Stutsman, Traill and Wells. There were also impacts in Mercer, Nelson and Richland Counties, but not enough to exceed the damages thresholds required for FEMA assistance.
A presidential declaration would make FEMA Public Assistance funding available to help cover the costs of debris removal, emergency operations and repairs or replacement of damaged infrastructure such as roads, public buildings and electrical distribution lines. The counties with the highest public damage assessment totals were Oliver County at $2.6 million, Cass County at $1.5 million, Barnes County at $1.3 million and Stutsman County at $1.1 million.
Armstrong previously spoke with Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, who oversees FEMA, to inform her that a declaration request was coming. He also announced a Grain Storage and Facility Rebuilder Program on July 1 to help agricultural producers quickly replace infrastructure, such as grain storage, lost in the June storms, with approximately $37 million available through the gap financing program. More information about the program is available on the Bank of North Dakota’s website.
 Gov. Armstrong testified July 16 before the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, urging lawmakers to maintain robust funding for transportation infrastructure, provide maximum flexibility for states and streamline the permitting and regulatory processes to reduce project delays and costs.
The governor thanked the committee’s chair, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, a committee member, for inviting him to testify and offer a state’s point of view during a hearing titled “Constructing the Surface Transportation Reauthorization Bill: Stakeholders’ Perspectives.”
“In rural states like ours, transportation infrastructure isn’t merely about convenience – it’s a pillar of our communities and thriving local economies,” Armstrong testified on behalf of the National Governors Association. “Our highways, roads and bridges are essential lifelines connecting our agricultural producers, energy industry, small businesses and families to markets, health care, education and emergency services.”
“My request for this Committee today is simple: continue providing robust funding, give maximum flexibility to states and watch us go to work,” he continued. “A key piece of ensuring states can successfully and efficiently build projects is formula-based funding. The next highway bill should maintain or increase the percentage of program dollars distributed by formula, allowing states to more quickly deliver critical transportation projects. This is especially important in states like North Dakota that don’t have that long of a construction season.”
Armstrong also urged policymakers to use surface transportation reauthorization to enact bipartisan permitting reform and streamline the permitting process.
“Robust funding is important, but all the money in the world means nothing if it can’t be deployed because of a broken permitting system,” Armstrong stated in his written testimony, adding, “Our current regulatory framework imposes excessive delays and escalating costs, and injects uncertainty into critical infrastructure projects. It also discourages private sector investment, while making federal investment less effective and efficient.”
Armstrong, who served six years as North Dakota’s lone member of Congress before being elected governor last November, said the Senate committee and their House colleagues have “a real opportunity to ensure efficiency, certainty and transparency in the permitting process, all while protecting our environment.”
IN OTHER NEWS
 Armstrong appoints Eyre, Spahr to open judgeships
Gov. Armstrong appointed Grand Forks County Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Eyre to an open judgeship in the Northeast Central Judicial District, effective Aug. 29, and Bismarck attorney Marina Spahr to an open judgeship in the South Central Judicial District, effective Sept. 15.
Eyre has served as an assistant state’s attorney for Grand Forks County since 2013. He has led the office’s personal crimes team since 2019, supervising a team of four prosecutors handling cases involving primarily domestic violence, sexual abuse, internet crimes and crimes against children. Eyre previously served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of North Dakota School of Law in Grand Forks, working with the school’s Moot Court program in 2014 and 2015. Prior to attending law school, he worked as a medical services coordinator assisting military servicemembers and as an English teacher.
The Northeast Central Judicial District judgeship vacancy was created by the upcoming retirement of Judge John A. Thelen, effective Aug. 1. Thelen has served the district since 2015. Four attorneys were named as finalists for the judgeship, which is chambered in Grand Forks.
The Northeast Central Judicial District comprises Grand Forks and Nelson counties.
Spahr has served as an assistant attorney general and director of the North Dakota Medicaid Fraud Control Unit within the Attorney General’s Office since 2019. Prior to that, she served nearly four years as a senior assistant Burleigh County state’s attorney, specializing in felony-level crimes with direct victim impact. From 1994 to 2015, Spahr worked in private practice in Carrington and Cooperstown, specializing in family law, real estate, probate and contracts, among other areas. During that time, she also served as a state’s attorney or assistant state’s attorney in Pembina, Wells, Griggs and Steele counties, and as a special assistant state’s attorney for Barnes, Eddy, Foster, McLean and Ward counties.
The South Central Judicial District judgeship vacancy was created by the June 6 retirement of Judge David E. Reich, who had served the district since 2006. Three attorneys were named as finalists for the judgeship, which is chambered in Bismarck.
The South Central Judicial District consists of Burleigh, Emmons, Grant, McLean, Mercer, Morton, Oliver, Sheridan and Sioux counties.
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Gov. Armstrong helped dedicate the Highway 22 bridge over the Heart River in Dickinson as the Spc. Jon P. Fettig Iraq Bridge. Fettig was killed in action outside Ar Ramadi, Iraq, on July 22, 2003. He was serving with the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company. |
Gov. Armstrong provided welcome remarks at the start of the 50th annual ND Governor’s Walleye Cup in Garrison. The Governor's Walleye Cup is the region's largest walleye fishing tournament, held annually in Garrison along the shores of Lake Sakakawea.
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Gov. Armstrong announced an online portal for Theodore Roosevelt Rough Rider Award nominations. The award is the state’s highest commendation for its citizens, presented to those influenced by the state in achieving national recognition.
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North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $353,983 in community suicide prevention grants to seven organizations across the state. Funding will support projects that implement evidence-based strategies focused on higher risk populations and emphasize life skills development, resilience-building, and social connectedness.
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