The US Selective Service System (SSS), which maintains a database of male citizens potentially callable for military service during emergencies, submitted a new "automatic registration" proposal to the White House's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in late March. The proposal is currently awaiting final approval.
This regulation stems from the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026, signed by President Donald Trump in 12/2025. The act mandates a transition from individual-initiated registration to an automatic system utilizing federal data integration.
The US has not implemented a mandatory draft since 1973, relying solely on volunteers who contractually serve in the military. Despite this, the SSS maintains the selective service registration system, ensuring readiness for emergencies.
The new regulation is expected to take effect in December. The SSS states that "automatic registration" aims to simplify procedures. This allows the federal government to reallocate resources, redirecting funds from public outreach to enhancing combat readiness and force mobilization capabilities.
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US military personnel conduct exercises at Fort Polk, Louisiana, 11/2022. *Photo: US Army*
The US conscription system was established in 1917 under President Woodrow Wilson after the nation entered World War I. Mandatory military service was suspended in 1975 under President Gerald Ford.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter established the SSS standby mechanism to ensure the US could rapidly mobilize personnel during emergencies.
Currently, most male US citizens and immigrants aged 18-25 must self-register for selective service within 30 days of their 18th birthday. Late registration is permitted until just before their 26th birthday. Failure to register can lead to federal law violations, resulting in penalties such as ineligibility for federal benefit programs, fines up to USD 250,000, or a maximum of 5 years in prison.
Registration rates have declined in recent years. This is partly due to the removal of the registration option from federal student loan applications starting in 2022, which previously accounted for approximately 25% of all registrations.
Under the new regulation, men will be automatically enrolled in the system within 30 days of turning 18. This occurs through integration with federal data sources.
The US President cannot unilaterally implement a mandatory draft; congressional approval is required. The White House stated that reinstating mandatory military service "is not the current plan," though future options remain open.
Thanh Danh (According to Military Times, Hill, Fox)
