US to Auto-Register Men for Selective Service in 2025

The United States will begin automatically registering eligible men for the Selective Service System in December 2025, shifting the responsibility from individuals to the federal government through integration with existing data sources. The change, aimed at streamlining the process and reducing administrative costs, applies to most males aged 18 to 25 who are required by law to be available for a potential military draft in a national emergency.

The Selective Service System, the agency tasked with maintaining a database of potential draftees, submitted a proposed rule to implement the automatic registration on March 30, 2024, as mandated by the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress the previous year. Under the previous system, men were obligated to self-register within 30 days of turning 18, with late registration permitted until age 26. The new approach eliminates that step by drawing from federal records, such as those used for driver's licenses and other identifications. Officials with the agency described the update as a cost-saving measure that would support workforce realignment and improve efficiency, noting that more than 40 states and...