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Eligible men in the United States will be automatically registered for the military draft under a proposed federal rule, marking a significant shift in how the government maintains its pool for potential conscription.
The Selective Service System submitted the rule to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30, beginning a formal review process before implementation.
The change follows a mandate included in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which requires automatic registration in an effort to streamline the process and reduce administrative costs.
Currently, most men ages 18 to 25 are legally required to register with the Selective Service. Under the new system, that responsibility would shift from individuals to the government, using federal data to enroll eligible men within 30 days of their 18th birthdays.
The United States has not conducted a military draft since the Vietnam War, and the armed forces have operated as an all-volunteer force since 1973. However, the Selective Service registry has remained in place for use during a national emergency.
President Jimmy Carter reinstated draft registration in 1980 amid Cold War tensions, allowing the government to maintain a database of potential service members should Congress and the president authorize conscription.
Recent global tensions, including the conflict involving Iran, have renewed public questions about whether a draft could be reinstated. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in March that a draft is “not part of the current plan,” though President Donald Trump has kept options open.
Under current law, a president cannot unilaterally reinstate the draft. Congress would need to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize conscription.
Failure to comply with registration requirements can carry significant penalties, including fines of up to $250,000, prison sentences of up to five years, and ineligibility for certain federal benefits, employment opportunities and job training programs. Noncitizens who fail to register may also jeopardize their path to U.S. citizenship.
Women are not currently required to register for the draft. Efforts in recent years to include women in the Selective Service system have been proposed in Congress but ultimately removed from final versions of defense legislation.
The proposed rule remains under review, with final approval needed before automatic registration takes effect.
