The U.S. has not had a national draft since the Vietnam War. Since 1973, military service has been completely voluntary. However, the Selective Service System (SSS) has always maintained a database of men in case of a national emergency. Now, Secretary Pete Hegseth’s Defense Department is reportedly looking to make registration into the military draft pool automatic by December 2026.
According to The Hill, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was quick to ease concerns about a draft in the near future, saying that a draft is “not part of the current plan right now,” but that the president “wisely keeps his options on the table.” Leavitt is not always perfectly aligned with Donald Trump, so as this story gains traction, it wouldn’t be surprising if Trump eventually weighs in himself on Truth Social.
