The United States government has proposed a new rule that would automatically register young American men for military draft eligibility, ending decades of self-registration.
The proposal, submitted by the Selective Service System to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30, would see men registered automatically rather than being asked to do so themselves within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
Proponents say automatic registrations will save the government millions of dollars spent every year on reminding eligible men that registration is required by law for those between 18 and 25.
The rule is still being reviewed and must be approved before implementation, though it has prompted fears of mandatory US conscription in the event of a crisis.
In the US, most men between 18 and 25 are already required to register. Failing to do so is a crime and can theoretically lead to five years in federal prison. While prison sentences are virtually non-existent, failure to register can also lead to ineligibility for federal student financial aid and federal jobs. Non-citizens who do not register can also be denied US citizenship.
Despite existing rules, compliance fell to 81 percent in 2024, according to government data.
The change in favour of automatic registration was approved by Congress in December as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, which authorises funding for the US military.
Pennsylvania Democratic Representative Chrissy Houlahan, who sponsored the language, was quoted as saying the move would allow the government to “rededicate resources” towards readiness and mobilisation rather than advertising campaigns.
The change has prompted fears among some Americans that the US is moving toward a military draft if the war with Iran escalates. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in March that a draft is “not part of the current plan right now, but the president wisely keeps his options on the table.”
The last US military draft took place in 1973 after years of massive public opposition during the Vietnam War. Selective service registration was reinstated by then-President Jimmy Carter in 1980.
