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By Brendan Cole
Senior Reporter
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Former Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt for not ruling out a U.S. military draft as speculation grows over whether the conflict with Iran will mean American troops on the ground despite a current ceasefire.
Leavitt was asked on Fox News' Sunday Morning Futures in March to give assurances to American mothers worried that "we're going to have a draft, that they're going to see their sons and daughters get involved in this." Leavitt replied that a draft was not part of President Donald Trump's plan right now but that he "wisely keeps his options on the table."
Greene, a Republican former congresswoman from Georgia, posted on X that Leavitt should have confirmed there would be no draft, nor boots on the ground, because the GOP had campaigned on no more foreign wars or regime change. "Liars every single one of them! Not my son, over my dead body!!!!!" said Greene, formerly a staunch Trump supporter. In a follow-up post, she added: "a bunch of psycho Republicans want to not only draft your sons but your daughters too!!!!!"
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The renewed debate over conscription comes as the Selective Service System separately moves toward automatically registering men aged 18 to 25 into the draft pool by December, following a proposed rule submitted March 30 under authority granted by Congress in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act—and as Trump announced a two-week ceasefire with Iran on Tuesday.
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Will There Be a Draft?
The U.S. has employed conscription in six conflicts: Revolutionary War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam. Active conscription ended in January 1973, and the U.S. Armed Forces moved to an all-volunteer military, although conscription remains in place on a contingency basis.
U.S. federal law continues to allow for compulsory conscription under emergency or extraordinary security conditions outlined in Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution and 10 U.S. Code § 246. This would apply to able-bodied men between the ages of 17 and 45 who are, or who have made a declaration of intention to become, U.S. citizens. It would also apply to female members of the U.S. National Guard and some other women in health care occupations.
While Leavitt and later Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth did not rule out a draft—with the latter telling CBS News that “we’re willing to go as far as we need to in order to be successful”—there's no clear indication this could happen regarding Operation Epic Fury launched against Iran.
The current force size, combined with the Reserves and National Guard, with more than 1.3 million serving personnel, gives the U.S. significant capacity before conscription would even be considered.
However, a report by The Washington Post in June 2024 said that a group of influential former administration officials and GOP lawmakers have floated a national service mandate and other measures “to remedy what they see as a 'crisis' facing the all-volunteer military."
What Is Selective Service?
All male U.S. citizens and immigrants between the ages of 18 and 25, whether documented or undocumented but residing in the United States, are required to register with the Selective Service System (SSS).
However, beginning on December 18, 2026, the process will be replaced with a requirement for the SSS to register them "automatically" based on other federal government databases. The SSS website said the measures “provide our nation with a structure and a system of guidelines which will provide the most prompt, efficient, and equitable draft possible, if the country should need it.”
Men must register within 30 days of turning 18, although there are some exemptions such as those on active duty, some disabled persons and those in prison.
Conscientious objectors, who oppose serving in the armed forces and/or bearing arms for moral or religious principles, are required to register.
Failure to register for the SSS can lead to the denial of federal employment, federal job training programs and citizenship if an immigrant. It is also punishable by up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000.
How Would a Draft Be Carried Out?
If implemented, a draft today would be like the one that took place during the Vietnam War, according to Military.com, which said that the SSS would most likely hold a lottery in which numbers up to 366—for each day of the year, including leap years—would correspond to dates of birth. So, the number 1 would correspond to January 1, 2 would be January 2 and so on.
If a draft were held right now, those who are 20 years old—or turning 20 in the year in which the numbers are drawn—would be the first to go. Starting on January 1 of the year an eligible male turns 21, he would drop into the second priority category. Each successive year, a man drops into the next lower priority group until he has reached his 26th birthday, which is over the age of liability for the draft. Men ages 18 and 19 are last in the priority order.
Those drafted may still be eligible for a deferment under categories such as those married, college students and family members of those killed in action. Draftees can also be excluded for medical or psychological reasons, declare themselves a conscientious objector or maybe enlist in a branch or career field to avoid combat duty.
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