Section 535 of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act takes effect on December 18, 2026 - 69 days from now. The provision, enacted in 2025, is the first in U.S. history to automate the military conscription system.https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/1071/textThe government has not yet released the rules that would govern how that system works. Those rules are supposed to specify which federal and state databases the automated draft can access, and who qualifies for deferments or exemptions.The Selective Service System withdrew its proposed rules in July and has not resubmitted them.https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=1329661With just over two months remaining, there are still no published guidelines. That leaves open the possibility that citizens could be selected without a clear explanation of how or why, and without a defined process for seeking a deferment or exemptions.Even if the Selective Service submitted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking today, the timeline would not fit. Proposed rules must undergo at least 30 days of review at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, then a public comment period of 60 days. There is not enough time left before December 18 to complete both steps.
