US moves toward automatic draft registration by 2026 under NDAA

The Selective Service System plans to automatically register eligible men aged 18–26 for a potential U.S. military draft by December 2026, implementing a National Defense Authorization Act provision that requires automatic enrollment for all male U.S. citizens in that age range. There has been no active draft since 1973; registration remains legally required (since 1980) but has largely been voluntary, with 2024 registration at 81%. The auto-registration proposal was filed with the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30. There are currently no announced plans to reinstate a full draft beyond this automatic enrollment, though noncompliance carries significant fines or prison time; FAFSA registration changes in 2020 removed the requirement for aid eligibility.