REUTERS—The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill seeking to automate the registration of men aged 18 - 26 for the Selective Service System, which has been required by federal law since 1980, contrary to social media posts suggesting the bill makes registration a new requirement or reinstates the draft.
The Republican-led House of Representatives passed H.R. 8070, opens new tab titled, “Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” on June 14. It includes a provision to automatically register those who are required to register for the Selective Service System.
The bill still needs to pass the Senate and be signed by President Joe Biden to become law.
An Instagram video says, “House passes defense bill automatically registering men 18 - 26 for draft. It’s now mandatory for all male U.S. citizens to register for the selective service, also known as the military draft, when they turn 18. Failure to register is classified as a felony.”
The Selective Service System already requires almost all male U.S. citizens and immigrants between ages 18 and 26 to register with Selective Service. Presidential Proclamation 4771 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter reinstated the registration requirement in 1980.
A spokesperson for the House Armed Services Committee said in an email that “a provision in the House-passed NDAA would automatically register all men, who are U.S. citizens and between the ages of 18 - 25, for the selective service.”
Failure to register is a felony violation of the Military Services Act and conviction can include imprisonment for up to five years and a fine of up to $250,000. The national registration rate is at 84%, according to 2023 data.
“Failure to register for the selective service can impact employment and the ability to receive government assistance but sometimes young men are unaware they need to register for the selective service until it’s too late,” the Committee spokesperson said. “This provision would eliminate those future headaches.”
Registration does not mean automatic induction into the military or being drafted. There is currently no draft. The most recent draft was during the Vietnam War, which formally ended in 1975. The last man inducted during that draft entered the U.S. Army in June 1973.
According to the Selective Service System website, if the United States returned to a draft Congress would have to amend the Military Selective Service Act to authorize President Joe Biden to admit individuals to the Armed Forces, following a national emergency exceeding the available capability of the Department of Defense.
Then, the Selective Service would activate and order all to report for duty. Next, a public lottery would be held, after which induction notices would be sent and individuals who were selected can make requests for postponement, deferment or exemption.
