The United States will automatically register eligible men for the military draft starting December, shifting the responsibility from individuals to the government as part of a cost-saving measure. The Selective Service System (SSS) announced the move under the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, which integrates federal data sources to streamline the registration process.
Currently, men aged 18 to 25 are required to register voluntarily. Under the new system, men will be automatically added to the draft pool within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Failure to register could carry severe penalties, including fines of up to $250,000, up to five years in jail, loss of state financial aid, and disqualification from federal jobs. Immigrants who fail to register also risk losing US citizenship.
While the US hasn’t had a military draft since the Vietnam War, the Selective Service was reinstated in 1980 as a precaution for national emergencies. The recent conflict with Iran and the two-week ceasefire have sparked public discussions about the potential use of the draft, although the White House maintains that conscription is “not part of the current plan.”
Women remain excluded from the draft, despite past proposals to include them in the legislation. Experts say the automatic registration will modernize the process and ensure the US maintains a ready database of potential recruits in case of a national emergency.
