Government will automatically register eligible men, replacing self-signup requirement
WASHINGTON — The United States is moving to an automatic registration system for Selective Service, marking the most consequential administrative change to the process since the modern system resumed in 1980.
The change is part of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, signed into law on December 18, 2025. It transfers responsibility for registration from individuals to the Selective Service System (SSS) through the use of existing federal data.
Selective Service registration is not military service. It is a legal requirement for eligible men to provide basic information to the government for use only if a draft is authorized.
Implementation and scope
On March 30, 2026, the SSS submitted its proposed rule for federal review. The agency expects full implementation by December 2026.
Under current law, men ages 18 to 25 are required to register. Under the new system, eligible men will be enrolled automatically using federal data sources, reducing cases of unintentional non-registration. The agency reported an 18-year-old registration rate of about 42% in 2024.
No draft, no expansion of scope
The policy does not reinstate a military draft. The United States remains an all-volunteer force, and any move toward conscription would require separate approval from Congress and the President.
Registration requirements continue to apply only to men. Officials also state that data use will comply with federal privacy laws, including the Privacy Act.
