The U.S. federal government has revealed plans to begin automatically enrolling eligible young men in the military draft later this year, according to a new rule released last week.

Amid the ongoing conflict involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran in the Middle East, more Americans have started questioning whether they might be required to serve if tensions intensify.

It now appears a decision has been reached. The Selective Service System (SSS), which maintains a database of individuals eligible for conscription, submitted a proposal for automatic registration to the Office of Information at the end of March.

The measure has already received congressional approval, having been included in the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act passed in December of last year.

The SSS agency states on its website: “This statutory change transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to SSS through integration with federal data sources.

“SSS will implement the change by December 2026, resulting in a streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment.”

What will this mean for men in America?

Young men across the United States may be wondering how this rule change will affect them, but in reality, most males between the ages of 18 and 25 are already required to sign up with the Selective Service System in case a draft is ever activated.

At present, men in this age range must register themselves within 30 days of turning 18, although late registration is still accepted up to age 26. Failing to register within that window is considered a felony and can result in penalties of up to $250,000 in fines or five years in prison. It may also lead to losing access to student loans, government employment, or even U.S. citizenship for immigrants.

With the new rule, however, young men will no longer need to register on their own. Instead, they will be automatically enrolled when applying for a driver’s license or identification card, according to the SSS.

Although 46 states and territories already have automatic registration systems in place, the federal update will standardize the process nationwide.

One key reason for the change is a recent drop in registration rates, which declined from 84% of eligible men in 2023 to 81% in 2024, as reported by the New York Post.

The SSS also noted that automating registration will allow funds currently used to encourage sign-ups to be redirected toward mobilization efforts and preparedness.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has revealed conscription is ‘not part of the current plan right now,’ but added that Donald Trump ‘wisely keeps his options on the table.’

What happens during a military draft in the US?

The US hasn’t actually used a military draft, formally known as conscription, since the Vietnam War draft, which ran from 1964 to 1973, with more than 1.7 million men selected to fight in the war.

Still, with active conflict ongoing, many people have wondered whether the US armed forces could be forced to rely on conscripted forces if the tensions escalate.

When men are registered, this does not mean they’re drafted, it simply means they’re in a pool if a draft is needed.

To restart a draft, the US Congress would need to pass a law, which would be signed by the president.

A lottery system would then be activated, in which birthdates are drawn at random and those with the lowest numbers will be called first; the same system which was famously used during the Vietnam War.

The men whose numbers are called will go through medical and psychological exams and if they don’t meet the standards they’ll be exempt. Those who are considered to be fit for duty will be officially inducted into a branch of the military, such as the Army or the Navy and will then go through basic training.

It’s crucial to note that the US government is only likely to issue a draft in a major war or national crisis and otherwise will continue operating on an all-volunteer military.

Currently women are not required to register, however there has been some debate around this subject, given that much of the volunteer military is already made up of women.