Here's who is (and isn't) impacted by US military draft changes
Here's who is (and isn't) impacted by US military draft changes
N'dea Yancey-Bragg and Melina Khan, USA TODAYFri, April 10, 2026 at 5:59 PM UTC
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Many men will soon be automatically registered into the U.S. military draft pool, according to the federal agency that oversees the system.
Eligible men are already required to register with the Selective Service System, which oversees the database of people who could be called for service in the event of a military draft. The agency is now moving to an automatic registration process, rather than requiring men to sign up manually.
Here's what to know about the new military draft registration process and who is eligible:
1 / 0Latest photos capture US and Israeli strikes against Iran
Smoke rises following an explosion, after Israel and the U.S. launched strikes on Iran, in Tehran, Iran, February 28, 2026.
Who is automatically registered for the military draft?
Virtually all male U.S. citizens and immigrants ages 18-25 are required to register for the draft, even those who believe they would be exempt from serving, according to the SSS website. Eligible men will soon be automatically registered for the draft instead of having to sign up manually.
Men who are serving in the military on full-time active duty continuously from ages 18 through 26 do not have to register for the draft. Those who are hospitalized or incarcerated continuously on or before their 18th birthday through age 25 are also exempt. Men who are on non-immigrant visas are exempt, according to the SSS website, as long as they remain on a valid visa up until they turn 26.
The Military Selective Service Act only requires draft registration for men. Women can enlist in active duty combat in order to serve.
What is the military draft age limit?
Eligible men must register within 30 days of their 18th birthday, according to the SSS website. The agency said it accepts registrations after that up until a man reaches his 26th birthday.
Soldiers assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve’s 1st Mission Support Command await clearance to enter a shooting range during a live-fire training exercise at Camp Santiago in Salinas, Puerto Rico, on Jan. 10, 2026.When does automatic military draft registration take effect?
The agency will implement the switch to automatic registration by December, according to SSS website.
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What changed from previous draft rules?
The agency is moving to an automatic registration process, rather than requiring eligible men to sign up manually. According to the SSS website, the change "transfers responsibility for registration from individual men to SSS through integration with federal data sources."
Does this mean there's going to be a military draft?
The war and current ceasefire in Iran has sparked renewed questions about whether the U.S. will enact a military draft.
In a March 8 interview on Fox News, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said bringing back the draft is "not part of the current plan right now," but she added that President Donald Trump "keeps his options on the table."
There is no draft at present and there has not been an active military draft since 1973, according to the SSS. Returning to an active draft would require Congress to amend the Military Selective Service Act, according to SSS.
What has Trump said about a military draft?
A USA TODAY review of Trump's appearances and interviews in early March indicated he had not commented publicly on the possibility of enacting a draft around that time. But in a September 2024 Truth Social post during the campaign, Trump described a vote for his opponent, former Vice President Kamala Harris, as a vote for bringing back the draft.
"A VOTE FOR PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP IS A VOTE FOR PROSPERITY & PEACE," Trump wrote.
Contributing: Kinsey Crowley
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US military draft shifts to automatic registration. Who's impacted?
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