The federal government plans to begin automatically registering young men for the draft, different outlets noted.
The Selective Service System (SSS) has proposed a rule change that would allow it to begin automatically registering eligible young men for the draft.
Federal law already requires most male U.S. citizens and immigrants to register with the system at age 18. The proposed rule change would mean that young men would be automatically entered into the system.
"In a national emergency, Selective Service System will use the registry to provide personnel to the Department of War and alternative service for conscientious objectors, if authorized by the President and Congress," the SSS website states.
According to the New York Post, the rule change would be implemented as of December.
The newspaper noted that Congress cleared the way for the rule change when it passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act last December.
"This statutory change transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to SSS through integration with federal data sources," the SSS notes on its website. "SSS will implement the change by December 2026, resulting in a streamlined registration process and corresponding workforce realignment."
The outlet reported that 46 states already automatically register people when they apply for a driver's license or an ID. But, in 2024, the SSS told Congress that registration rates had declined from 84 percent of eligible men in 2023 to 81 percent.
Supporters of the change said that young men already were required by law to register and that automatic registration will simplify the process.
"This will also allow us to rededicate resources — basically that means money — towards [readiness] and towards mobilization ... rather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people," Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., who sponsored the language, told the Military Times.
