Eligible Men Will Soon Be Automatically Registered for the Draft

Eligible male U.S. citizens will soon be automatically enrolled in the military draft, under a change approved by Congress in the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2026.

Currently, men ages 18 to 25 are required to register themselves through the Selective Service System online. The new law removes that step, automatically registering eligible men instead. Congress said the move is intended to streamline the process and cut costs.

The rule is not yet in effect. It is currently under review by the Regulatory Affairs Office and still awaiting finalization.