As of now, the inclusion of women in the Selective Service registration requirement is being debated as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. Since its inception in 1917, the U.S. Selective Service has mandated registration for men aged 18 to 25.

The NDAA, recently passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee and moving to the Senate floor, includes a recurring proposal to extend the draft requirement to women. This legislation not only sets funding levels but also outlines priorities for the U.S. military and national security programs, totaling $923.3 billion.

It’s worth noting that the United States has not utilized the draft since the Vietnam War, and there are currently no plans to reinstate it; the armed forces rely on volunteer service members. Efforts to include women in the draft have been made intermittently, most recently in 2022, with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, a Democrat and West Point graduate, advocating for this change.

For further details, the executive summary of the NDAA for Fiscal Year 2025 can provide additional insights into this ongoing legislative development.

In 2017, Congress established a commission tasked with studying the inclusion of women in the draft. Mandated by the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act, the commission concluded its findings by recommending that women should indeed be eligible for the draft.

“This is a necessary and equitable step, enabling the nation to leverage the capabilities of a united populace during times of national crisis,” stated the 11 commissioners in their final report.

While previous attempts to include women in the draft have failed in past versions of the NDAA, there is a potential for success this year.

Interestingly, Senator Jack Reed, who initially proposed the amendment to require women to register for the draft, ultimately voted against the bill. His decision was influenced by an amendment put forth by Senator Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the committee, which sought to increase overall spending. Senators Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts, and Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas, also voted against the spending bill for similar reasons.

The Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) coincides with the House’s approval of its $883.7 billion version of the bill, which incorporates several Republican initiatives. These include measures such as prohibiting funds for executive orders related to climate change and defunding the Defense Department’s chief diversity office. Additionally, it calls for the elimination of diversity, equity, and inclusion offices within the military and imposes a hiring freeze on positions associated with these areas.

Moreover, the House version includes an amendment that prohibits drag shows and other drag-related events from taking place on military bases. These amendments reflect ongoing debates and policy directions within the broader scope of defense spending and cultural considerations within the armed forces.