Eligible young men will automatically be registered for US military draft later this year
The federal government is preparing to begin automatically enrolling eligible men in the military draft system starting in December, according to a proposed regulation released last week.
The change was submitted by the Selective Service System, the agency responsible for maintaining records of Americans who could be called for military service if a draft is reinstated. The proposal was sent to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30.
Congress authorized the automatic registration policy in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, the annual legislation that funds military personnel and operations.
According to the Selective Service System, the new law shifts the responsibility for registering from individual men to the agency itself by allowing it to use federal data sources to enroll eligible individuals automatically. The agency says it plans to have the new system operating by December 2026, which it says will simplify the registration process and lead to adjustments in staffing.
Current federal law already requires most men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register with the Selective Service System in case a draft is ever reinstated. Men are supposed to sign up within 30 days after turning 18, though the agency allows late registration until a man reaches age 26.
Failing to register is considered a felony offense. Individuals who do not register could face fines of up to $250,000 or prison sentences of up to five years. They may also lose eligibility for federal student loans, government employment at the federal, state, or local level, and U.S. citizenship for immigrants.
Many states already link draft registration to other government services. According to the Selective Service System, 46 states and territories automatically register eligible men when they apply for a driver’s license or identification card.
In a 2024 report to Congress, the agency said draft registration rates had fallen in recent years. The participation rate declined from 84 percent of eligible men in 2023 to 81 percent.
Representative Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, who introduced the automatic registration provision in the 2026 defense policy legislation, said the change could reduce costs. She argued that the government would be able to shift money currently used for outreach and advertising campaigns into military readiness and mobilization efforts.
The United States has not used a military draft since the Vietnam War. However, tensions involving Iran have raised public discussion about whether a draft could be considered in the future.
When asked about that possibility last month, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a draft is not currently part of the administration’s plans. She also said that President Trump keeps his options open.
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