People: US plans to automatically register men for military draft eligibility starting December

Starting in December, American men aged 18-25 will be automatically included in the Selective Service System (SSS) database, a registry used for military conscription in case of national emergencies, People magazine reports.

Until now, this registration was mandatory, but it was carried out independently. But now the responsibility is transferred to the department itself, through integration with federal databases, which, according to the SSS, will save time and money. President Donald Trump had signed the corresponding law in December 2025 as part of the 2026 defense budget.

The US has not conducted a military draft since 1973, but the aforesaid registry was restored in 1980 under President Jimmy Carter.

Questions about a possible military draft in the US have been heightened since the start of US-Israeli military operations against Iran in February.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in March that a military draft was not part of the current plan, but Trump was keeping all options open.