Trump Administration Wants to Make It More Difficult to Evade a Military Draft

Key Points:

• The Selective Service System will begin automatically registering draft-eligible men aged 18-25 later this year, replacing the previous self-registration process that has been in place since 1980.
• Registration rates have declined, with only 81% of eligible men registered in 2024, down 3 percentage points from the previous year, prompting calls for modernization of the system amid concerns about potential conflicts with near-peer powers like China.
• The move to automatic registration was mandated by the National Defense Authorization Act for 2026, signed by former President Trump, and requires coordination with agencies like the Social Security Administration and Census Bureau to share relevant data.
• Historically, the draft faced significant resistance during the Vietnam War era, including draft evasion, deferments for privileged individuals, and widespread protests, which ultimately led to the end of the draft and the establishment of an all-volunteer military force in 1973.
• Officials emphasize that the new registration system is intended for efficient manpower management and surveillance rather than immediate preparation for a large-scale ground invasion, reflecting a strategic approach to draft readiness.