Automatic Selective Service Registration to Begin in December Under New NDAA Provision

The Selective Service System will begin automatically registering draft-eligible men ages 18-25 using federal databases starting December 18, 2026, replacing the current self-registration requirement. The provision was mandated by the FY2026 NDAA signed by Trump in December 2025. The system will tap Social Security Administration records to build the registry. A proposed implementation rule was submitted to OIRA on March 30. The change does not activate a draft, which would still require separate congressional authorization, but it eliminates a compliance gap in maintaining the roster of eligible men.