A government filing shows that men of a certain age could be automatically registered for a military draft before this year ends.
The website of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs shows that a proposed rule submitted on March 30 would fast-track a change to go in effect by December 2026 after initially being approved by Congress in 2025 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act. The rule was submitted by the Selective Service System (SSS), the government agency that maintains the draft-eligible database, and encompasses American males aged 18-25.
While the U.S. has long utilized an all-volunteer force and a draft has not been in effect since the tail end of the Vietnam War in the 1970s, the option of conscription has been considered an option since the SSS registration was reinstated in 1980 by then-President Jimmy Carter.
This new rule could have legal and financial penalties, as failure to register is a felony punishable with a fine of up to $250,000 or up to 5 years in prison.
White House Previously Said Draft 'On Table'
The proposed rule change was submitted a little over 30 days after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, as part of a conflict that remains ongoing yet is temporarily on hold due to an agreed upon two-week ceasefire that faced volatility on Wednesday.
In the early days of the war, and following the deaths of six U.S. soldiers in relation to the military operation, the Trump administration was asked about the prospect of incorporating a draft in addition to whether boots on the ground in the region was realistic.
“It has been, and it will continue to be,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox Business’ Sunday Morning Futures host Maria Bartiromo a month ago. “President Trump wisely does not remove options off of the table.
“I know a lot of politicians like to do that quickly, but the president as commander in chief wants to continue to assess the success of this military operation."
Fact checks conducted by Reuters, Forbes and PolitiFact found no correlation between now-President Donald Trump’s 2024 campaign and statements enforcing a widespread draft.
However, during the campaign, Trump also stated that the U.S. would focus more on an “America First” agenda rather than become embroiled in foreign wars.
Eligibility and Potential Negative Impacts
The Selective Service System would likely use a national lottery based on randomly drawn birthdates, reminiscent of the Vietnam War-era system, if conscription was enforced.
The order of induction would typically prioritize the following, in order of most likely conscripted:
20-year-olds first
21-year-olds
22–25-year-olds
18- and 19-year-olds
Those selected would first report for medical and administrative screening before any induction into military service.
Currently, young men must register themselves within 30 days of turning age 18 while late registration remains allowed until a man’s 26th birthday. Failure to register could affect eligibility for federal student financial aid, government employment and other benefits.
The current administration and Pentagon has lauded its recruiting numbers across all services. Numbers for draft registration in 2024 included 81% of eligible males, down from 84% the previous year per congressional data.
