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Published : 10 Apr 2026, 02:08 AM
Young American men could be automatically registered for military draft eligibility as early as December, ending decades of self-registration, BBC reports.
The proposed rule would replace the current system that requires men to register within 30 days of turning 18, shifting the responsibility to the government.
Supporters say the move would save millions of dollars spent each year reminding eligible individuals to register, as required by law for men aged 18 to 25.
The proposal, submitted by the Selective Service System (SSS) to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on Mar 30, is still under review and requires approval before implementation.
According to the SSS website, the change “transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to SSS” through integration with other federal data sources, aiming to create a “streamlined” process.
In the US, most men in the 18–25 age group are already legally required to register.
Failure to do so is a criminal offence that can theoretically result in up to five years in federal prison, though such sentences are rare.
Non-compliance can also make individuals ineligible for federal student aid, government jobs, and, for non-citizens, US citizenship.
Many US states and territories already automatically register men when issuing driving licences.
Despite this, compliance dropped to 81 percent in 2024, according to government data.
Congress approved the move towards automatic registration in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which governs military funding and operations.
Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Chrissy Houlahan, who sponsored the provision, said the change would allow the government to “rededicate resources”.
“Basically that means money, towards readiness and towards mobilisation,” Houlahan was quoted as saying by Military Times.
“Rather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people.”
However, the proposal has raised concerns among some Americans about the possibility of a future military draft, particularly if tensions escalate with Iran or another crisis emerges.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue in an interview with Fox News in early March.
“It’s not part of the current plan right now, but the president, again, wisely keeps his options on table,” Leavitt said.
“There’s no greater priority or responsibility to this president than, of course, protecting the American people and protecting our troops.”
The US last implemented a military draft in 1973 following widespread opposition during the Vietnam War.
Around 1.8 million Americans were drafted during the conflict, after which the country shifted to an all-volunteer military.
Selective service registration was reinstated in 1980 under then-President Jimmy Carter.
