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The Selective Service System plans to automatically register eligible American men between the ages of 18 and 26 for the U.S. military draft by December, nearly half a century after mandatory draft registration for that age group became law, according to government filings.
The agency’s proposal would introduce a requirement in the National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress in December, to include automatic enrollment for “all American men” of these ages.
There has been no conscription since 1973, when U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War was winding down.
But in 1980, President Jimmy Carter signed a law requiring men between the ages of 18 and 25 to register for the draft. Since then, the federal government has relied on voluntary compliance with its laws rather than automatic enrollment. A 26-year-old man is allowed to enroll late in accordance with the law.
The Senbatsu Service announced that 81% of all eligible men will register in 2024, a decrease of 3 percentage points from the previous year.
The agency’s proposal to automatically enroll men in the draft was submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30.
The proposal was made about a month after the United States and Israel began their war against Iran. A two-week ceasefire in the conflict came into effect on Tuesday night.
There are currently no formal plans to reinstate the draft.
But on March 8, when asked by Fox News Sunday host Maria Bartiromo about the possibility of reinstating the draft, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said President Donald Trump was “keeping options on the table.”
Failure to comply with Selective Service Registration is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 or up to five years in prison.
Some states require enrollment in the Selective Service for employment and student financial aid.
Selective Service registration was previously a requirement for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, but was removed as part of the FAFSA Simplification Act of 2020.
