Proposal would automatically register men 18-26 for the military draft, filing shows

The automatic registration would implement a provision that Congress passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in December.

By Kevin Killough

Published: April 9, 2026 3:48pm

The Selective Service System has submitted a proposal to automatically register eligible American men for the draft by December.

The proposal, by the independent U.S. government agency, will apply to men ages 18-24, according to CNBC. It was submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, about a month after the hostilities in Iran were initiated.

If enacted, the proposal will implement a provision that Congress passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in December.

There has not been a military draft since 1973, in the final months of the Vietnam War. In 2024, according to the Selective Service System, 81% of all eligible men were registered.