The United States military has relied on an all-volunteer force since 1973, and reinstating a draft requires specific legislation passed by Congress and signed by the President. A major change regarding draft registration takes effect in December 2026, which involves automating the registration pool. Male U.S. citizens and male immigrants (including documented and undocumented residents) residing in the U.S. are impacted. Why it changed: Congress approved the switch to eliminate the need for manual self-registration, changing a process that previously relied heavily on state driver's license applications.