America's lastmilitary draftended in 1973, but with US troops dying in the Middle East and a full-scale war raging against Iran, the question of whetherconscriptioncould return is no longer hypothetical.
On 28 February 2026, the United States and Israel launched Operation Epic Fury, a joint military campaign targetingIran's nuclear programme, missile infrastructure, and government leadership. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered a wave of retaliatory Iranian attacks across the Gulf region.
As the conflict spreads and casualty figures climb, a nervousness has settled over American households with sons and grandsons between the ages of 18 and 25, the age bracket currently required to be registered with theSelective Service System.
TheSelective Service Systemis a federal agency that operates independently of the Department of Defense. Under50 U.S.C. §3802, nearly all male US citizens and male immigrants between the ages of 18 and 25 are legally required to register with the agency within 30 days of their 18th birthday.
Failure to do so constitutes a federal felony, punishable by a fine of up to $250,000 ($214,000), a prison term of up to five years, or both. Non-registration also bars an individual from federal employment, student financial aid, and certain citizenship pathways.
The last time men were actually conscripted into the US military was during the Vietnam War. The draft was formally ended on 27 January 1973 by Defence Secretary Melvin Laird, who announced the transition to an all-volunteer force. The registration requirement, however, was suspended under President Carter and thenreinstated in 1980following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. It has remained continuously in place since 2 July 1980.
The SSS itself describes its role plainly on itsofficial website: 'The Selective Service System and the registration requirement for America's young men provide our Nation with a structure and a system of guidelines which will provide the most prompt, efficient, and equitable draft possible, if the country should need it.' If a draft lottery were held today, 20-year-olds would be called first, followed by those turning 21 during that calendar year, stepping down through age brackets until 26.
In June 2024, the House of Representatives passed its version of the FY2025 National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA), which included a provision to automatically register men aged 18 to 25 with the Selective Service when they turn 18. TheSelective Service's acting director, Joel C. Spangenberg, released a statementdescribing the measure as consistent with existing law and saying it 'removes the burden on individuals to register via our website or visit a local Post Office.'
However, the provision never became law. According to aCongressional Research Service analysis published by Congress.gov, 'The enacted legislation does not include a provision for automatic registration.' The final, signed version of the FY2025 NDAA dropped the automatic-registration clause entirely, a fact that several outlets reporting on the draft debate in early 2026 have glossed over or stated incorrectly.
Separately, the Senate Armed Services Committee's version of the same bill had proposed extending registration requirements to women, a proposal that has surfaced in Congress periodically since at least 2016 and which the Supreme Court declined to rule on in 2021, deferring to legislative deliberations. That provision was also absent from the final enacted law.
Source: International Business Times UK
