House passes resolution to automatically enroll men aged 18-26 in military draft

The House of Representatives passed a resolution Friday that automatically enrolls young men for selective service, and expands the mandatory draft ages by one years, to men aged 18-26.

Young men are already required to register for selective service if they are between the ages of 18 and 25, but the new resolution would enroll them automatically. Although the draft has not been used in half a century, it is considered a felony if an eligible man fails to register, Fox News reported.

The resolution was included in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which approves the defense budget for the next fiscal year, and includes the government's top priorities when it comes to defense and national security policies. The NDAA passed the House in a 217-199 vote.

"By using available federal databases, the [Selective Service] agency will be able to register all of the individuals required and thus help ensure that any future military draft is fair and equitable," Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Chrissy Houlahan said during debate on the resolution last month, according to Defense News. "This will also allow us to rededicate resources — basically that means money — towards reading readiness and towards mobilization … rather than towards education and advertising campaigns driven to register people."

The NDAA also included controversial measures on abortion, LGBTQ issues, and diversity efforts, which limits its ability to pass in the Democratic-led Senate. It also included a substantial pay raise for service members, including a 19% raise for junior enlisted members, and a 4.5% raise for other servicemembers.

"The NDAA coming out of the House is loaded with anti-LGBTQ, anti-choice, anti-environment, and other divisive amendments guaranteed not to pass the Senate," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a post to X. "We will have to work together to pass bipartisan legislation that honors and respects all who serve in defense of our nation."

Misty Severi is an evening news reporter for Just the News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.