U.S. to Automatically Register Young Men for Selective Service

The federal government will automatically enroll eligible young men in the Selective Service starting in December 2026 under a new rule. The change ends decades of mandatory self-registration and broadens the database of potential draftees. The rule does not reinstate a military draft; it only streamlines registration and enrollment. Supporters say it closes coverage gaps and simplifies administration; critics warn it lowers barriers to future conscription and raises civil liberty concerns.