Automatic U.S. military draft registration by December 2026 planned
CNBC • • nation
Key Points:
- The Selective Service System (SSS) plans to automatically register eligible American men aged 18 to 26 for the military draft by December, implementing a requirement from the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act.
- Since 1980, men have been required to register for the draft voluntarily, but the new proposal aims to shift to automatic enrollment, marking a significant change nearly fifty years after compulsory registration became law.
- Although there has been no military draft since 1973, failure to register remains a felony with penalties including fines up to $250,000 or up to five years in prison.
- The proposal was submitted shortly after the U.S. and Israel began a conflict with Iran, but currently, there are no plans to reinstate an actual draft.
- Registration is required for certain employment and state student financial aid programs, though it was removed from the federal FAFSA application in 2020.
