The United States is moving toward automatic registration of eligible men for its military draft system, following a provision included in the annual defence policy law signed by Donald Trump in late 2025.
While the move has drawn renewed attention amid tensions with Iran, officials say the policy change is not tied to any current conflict.
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Under the new measure in the National Defense Authorization Act, eligible men will be automatically registered for the draft pool starting in December.
This marks a shift from the current system, where men must sign up themselves with the Selective Service System within 30 days of turning 18.
Automatic registration is already used in 46 states and territories, often through driver’s licence or state ID applications. The new rule aims to standardise the process nationwide.
The law applies to:
Male US citizens aged 18 to 26
Male immigrants in the same age range, including green-card holders, refugees, asylum seekers, and undocumented individuals
Men on nonimmigrant visas are exempt.
Registering with the Selective Service does not mean someone will be drafted. It simply ensures the government has a pool of eligible individuals if a draft is ever reinstated.
Failure to register is a serious offence under the Military Selective Service Act. Penalties may include:
Loss of access to federal student loans and jobs
Possible fines and prison time
The US last used a military draft in 1973 during the Vietnam War. Since then, the country has relied on an all-volunteer military force.
A draft cannot happen automatically. It would require approval from Congress.
Officials have stressed that the automatic registration policy is unrelated to current geopolitical tensions, including the Iran conflict, and was passed with bipartisan support months earlier.
If Congress authorises a draft:
A lottery system would be used, based on birth dates
Men turning 20 in the draft year would be called first
Other age groups (21 to 25, then 19 and 18-year-olds) would follow
Those selected could apply for deferments or exemptions. Remaining candidates would undergo physical, mental, and moral evaluations before induction.
Lawmakers say automatic registration will:
The proposal was championed by Chrissy Houlahan and received bipartisan backing in Congress.
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