The federal government is set to start registering young people for the U.S. military draft later this year. This longstanding requirement, which compels men to self-register at 18, will transition to a new system that utilizes existing federal data for automatic registration.
In December, the U.S. government will begin the automatic enrollment of eligible youngsters into the Selective Service System (SSS). This federal agency keeps a national registry of men aged 18 to 25 who could be drafted during a national emergency, as noted in a report.
The automatic registration was approved by Congress as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act late last year. “This change shifts the registration responsibility from individual men to the SSS by integrating with federal data sources,” the agency stated.
According to the SSS, they plan to enact this change by December 2026, aiming for a more efficient registration process and a reassessment of their workforce.
Currently, most men aged 18 to 25 must enroll in the Selective Service System, readying them for potential draft approval.
These eligible individuals are required to self-register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, and not doing so is a felony.
“Not registering for the Selective Service contravenes the Military Selective Service Act,” the SSS highlighted. “Conviction could lead to up to five years imprisonment and/or fines reaching $250,000.”
Moreover, those who don’t register risk being ineligible for key future opportunities, including student loans, government jobs, or U.S. citizenship, the agency noted.
Registration numbers for the draft have been dwindling in recent years. One reason is the removal of the enrollment option from federal student loan applications in 2022, which used to contribute to nearly a quarter of all registrations.
Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.), who sponsored the automatic registration component in the 2026 Defense Policy Act, remarked that the bill “enables us to reallocate resources, which pretty much means money.” She emphasized a focus on mobilization rather than merely educational campaigns to encourage registration.
Despite legislative efforts, women still do not have to register for the draft.
The Selective Service System was created by President Woodrow Wilson in 1917 following the U.S. entry into World War I.
Since the Vietnam War ended in 1973, the U.S. has not implemented military conscription and has relied on volunteers instead. The draft was briefly suspended by President Gerald Ford in 1975 but was reinstated by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
