North Dakota Legislative Council Denies Approving $1.3M Bonuses

Governor Armstrong claims council approved the controversial payouts, but council says they lacked legal authority to do so.

Jan. 27, 2026 at 1:47pm

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The North Dakota Legislative Council has stated they did not authorize $1.3 million in bonuses paid out by the state's Retirement Investment Office, contradicting claims made by Governor Kelly Armstrong that the council and a lawyer in his office had approved the controversial payouts.

Why it matters

The dispute over the bonuses has raised questions about the state's oversight and approval processes for such payouts, as well as concerns about potential misuse of public funds. The Attorney General is expected to weigh in on the legality of the bonuses in the coming weeks.

The details

Governor Armstrong previously stated the bonus system at the Retirement Investment Office needed to be overhauled, but went ahead with the $1.3 million in payouts. The director of the Legislative Council has now said they did not have the legal authority to advise that the bonuses be approved.

  • The bonuses were paid out by the Retirement Investment Office in January 2026.
  • The Legislative Council has denied authorizing the bonuses.
  • An opinion from the state Attorney General is expected in the coming weeks.

The players

Kelly Armstrong

The Governor of North Dakota who claims the Legislative Council approved the controversial bonuses.

North Dakota Legislative Council

The state legislative body that says they did not authorize the $1.3 million in bonuses paid out by the Retirement Investment Office.

Drew Wrigley

The Attorney General of North Dakota who is expected to issue an opinion on the legality of the bonuses.

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What they’re saying

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