No, the US didn’t bring back the draft. Here’s what happened

A new draft? Not quite.

(NewsNation) — Social media posts claiming the United States has reinstated the draft are false, possible misinterpretations of a suggested change to the nation’s Selective Service System.

The U.S. House of Representatives Friday passed a measure within the National Defense Authorization Act that would automatically enroll men 18-26 with the Selective Service System.

The federal agency documents all people registered for Selective Service, many mandatorily. The agency would provide that information to the Defense Department in case of a draft, although one is not currently in place.

A draft hasn’t been instituted in the country since 1973 — and enlisting in the service is voluntary. Men 18-25 are already required by law to register for Selective Service.

As the law is written now, anyone who is required to register and fails to do so could be charged with a felony punishable by as many as five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000, according to the agency’s website.

Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., sponsored the language. She said in May it would make any potential future military draft fair and would save money on education and advertising campaigns currently geared at driving people to register.

2024 has the smallest active-duty force since 1940.

Findings from a Pew Research Center report suggest only 23% of young people qualify for the military, and a majority of Americans aged 18 to 29 have a negative view of the armed forces altogether.