The MLTF worked with peace, civil liberties, and privacy organizations to submit joint comments to the Selective Service System (SSS) objecting to an SSS proposal for new and expanded “routine uses” of SSS registration data.
The requirement for young men to register with the SSS for a possible military draft will end in December 2026. But Congress has chosen to give the SSS a second chance.
Over the course of this year, the SSS will be putting in place the regulatory and administrative framework for a new and certain to fail attempt to register potential draftees automatically [sic] on the basis of other existing Federal databases, starting when the “self-registration” requirement ends in December 2026.
Attempted automatic registration is the largest change to the Military Selective Service Act (MSSA) and U.S. planning and preparation for a draft since 1980. To implement this change in the law, the SSS will need to promulgate new regulations and a series of notices and requests for approval pursuant to Federal laws governing data collection (Paperwork Reduction Act), data sharing (Computer Matching Act) and data use (Privacy Act). That process is just beginning, but will need to be complete by December 2026.
The MLTF is monitoring and plans to participate in these administrative proceedings. See the upcoming edition of On Watch for what’s happening with the transition to “automatic” draft registration and the opportunities for MLTF members and other lawyers and legal workers to help.
The SSS has a track record of disregard for data protection laws, and is under pressure to expand the misuse of registration data. DOGE has already been given access to the SSS registration database for undisclosed purposes and with no apparent legal basis. The Heritage Foundation wants to weaponize SSS registration data against immigrants by using threats of prosecution for “knowing and willful” non-registration to pressure immigrants to “self-deport”, even though those threats are empty in the absence of evidence of notice and actual knowledge of the registration requirement.
The first official SSS rule-making action after the change to “automatic” registration was enacted was a proposal to expand the disclosure of SSS registration records to other Federal, state, and local agencies and private entities for a range of purposes including immigration enforcement. This isn’t overtly related to preparations for “automatic” registration, but is a precursor to the SSS notices and changes in rules that it will require.
The comments submitted January 16th in opposition to this SSS proposal for expanded data sharing were co-signed by the MLTF, Jewish C.O. Project, Restore the Fourth (RT4), Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC), Committee Opposed to Militarism and the Draft (COMD), Project on Youth and Non-Military Opportunities (Project YANO), Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF), and Center on Conscience & War (CCW).
This is a promising start toward a joint campaign against “automatic” draft registration — with all the dangers it poses as a data grab and an enabler of war planning — and for repeal of the MSSA and Selective Service. We invite peace, civil liberties, and privacy advocates to join us in this work.
