The United States is planning to automatically register all eligible men aged 18 to 25 into a military draft pool under a proposed rule change. The proposal, put forward by the Selective Service System (SSS), would come into effect in December if approved.
The shift to automatic registration was mandated in December as part of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. Most men in the qualifying age bracket are already required to register, but the change transfers responsibility from individuals to the SSS through integration with federal data sources.
The US has imposed wartime drafts in six conflicts, including the Vietnam War, which saw 1.8 million Americans called up. Military service has been voluntary since 1973, and reinstating the draft would require an act of Congress.
Currently, failure to register is a crime punishable by a $250,000 fine and up to five years in prison, though it is seldom prosecuted. Women remain ineligible for the draft despite repeated legislative attempts to include them.
The proposal comes amid the ongoing Iran conflict, with President Donald Trump refusing to rule out ground troops. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that the president keeps all options on the table, drawing criticism from some within Trump's own base.
