Young men are set to be automatically registered for the draft under the compromise version of the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act unveiled Sunday night.
The automatic draft registration provision was one of several measures included in the bill that broadly aim to make it easier for the military to find young people at a time when the propensity to serve remains low.
The U.S. has not drafted anyone into compulsory military service since 1973, but young men still have to register with the Selective Service System in case there is a draft again in the future. Failing to register is a felony punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 and five years imprisonment, as well as a loss of eligibility for federal jobs and, in most states, state student aid and state jobs.
