The United States is set to automatically register eligible young men for military service. This measure is aimed at simplifying the process and adjusting personnel to the geopolitical context, as the country has been in conflict with Iran for over a month.
So far, Americans aged 18 to 25 had an obligation to register with the Selective Service System (SSS), an agency managing the database of citizens eligible for military mobilization. However, the United States wants to take it a step further by making this registration automatic for all eligible men.
This change in the regulation was submitted by the SSS to the Bureau of Information and Regulatory Affairs on March 30, as reported by the New York Post, with an expected implementation date in December. The U.S. Congress had already approved this measure in late 2025, as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
“This legislative change transfers the responsibility of registering men to the SSS through the integration of federal data,” the agency stated on its website, adding that this modification will “simplify the process” and “adjust personnel accordingly.”
According to Democratic representative Chrissy Houlahan, the originator of the proposal as cited by the Military Times, the measure will “allocate resources to preparation and mobilization rather than information and advertising campaigns aimed at registering citizens.”
Reduction in Registration Rate Currently, 46 U.S. states and territories have already enacted legislation for the automatic registration of eligible men for military service when applying for a driver’s license or identification card. However, the SSS notes a gradual decrease in registration rates nationally, dropping from 84% of eligible men in 2023 to 81% in 2024.
Failure to register with the Selective Service System is considered a crime in the U.S. Men are required to register within 30 days of turning 18, although late registrations are accepted up to the age of 26.
Those who fail to follow this procedure face a fine of up to $250,000 or a five-year prison sentence. They may also be denied student loans, public jobs (at the federal, state, and local levels), and U.S. citizenship if they are immigrants.
Toward a Return to Conscription? In the midst of the conflict with Iran, Americans fear a tightening of procedures, including a return to conscription. Although White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated last month that it was not part of the current plan, she emphasized that Donald Trump was keeping “all options open” given the circumstances.
Similarly, at the end of March, the U.S. Army raised the maximum enlistment age from 35 to 42, aligning its recruitment policy with that of most other U.S. military branches like the Air Force or the Navy. These new rules will take effect on April 20.
This new regulation also allows the Army to enlist individuals with only one marijuana-related conviction. The minimum enlistment age remains at 17 with parental consent, or 18 years old.
