Some lawmakers are pushing to make women eligible for the draft
Image: Tawanya Norwood/US Marine Corps
The US military hasn’t held a draft in 50+ years. But Congress is currently considering some new updates to mandatory conscription – including a proposal that would make women eligible for the draft.
- Last Friday, a Senate committee approved a bill that would require US women to register for the draft alongside men, advancing it to the full Senate for consideration.
Background: Under current law, virtually all male Americans between the ages of 18-25 are required to register with the Selective Service as a potential draft candidate. Failure to register is classified as a felony and carries a range of penalties.
The current debate over female draft eligibility dates back to 1981, when the Supreme Court ruled that women weren’t required to register because the draft’s purpose was to fill combat roles – and women couldn’t serve in combat at the time.
- However, the US military later lifted its ban on women in combat in 2016. Four years later, a group of military experts first recommended that Congress expand the draft to include women.
- Congressional lawmakers have proposed several measures to make women draft-eligible since receiving that recommendation, though they’ve all lacked enough support to become law.
The arguments: Opponents of women in the draft, including some Republican lawmakers, argue that mandatory conscription is aimed at selecting the most physically fit candidates – and studies consistently show men are far better-suited than women.
- Proponents of expanding military draft eligibility, including some Democratic lawmakers, argue that women can provide significant value without having to serve in combat. Some supporters also contend that America’s current draft system illegally discriminates against men.
Looking ahead… Analysts predict a slim chance that the proposal to make women draft-eligible will become law this legislative session, though lawmakers are likely to try again in the future.
đź“Š Flash poll: In your opinion, should American women aged 18-25 be required to register for the US military draft?
See a 360° view of what media pundits are saying →
Sprinkles from the Left
- Some commentators argue that women in America have been rapidly moving toward obtaining equal rights and opportunities, and those equal rights should come with equal responsibilities like a legal burden to register for the draft.
- Others contend that registering for the draft should apply to both men and women, since male-only military conscription is sexist and unconstitutional – but the US government should do its best to not rely on the draft in the first place in favor of volunteers.
- “Yes, Congress should make women eligible for the draft” –Henry Olsen, WaPo
- “ Should women be exempt from the draft? The Supreme Court took a pass on deciding” –Robin Abcarian, LA Times
- “Why women should be required to register for the draft” –Juliette Kayyem and Monica Medina, CNN
Sprinkles from the Right
- Some commentators argue that making women eligible for the US draft would not increase the effectiveness of the military, the policies supporting it, or the procedures of executing the draft, and goes against the whole point of a draft in the first place.
- Others contend that women shouldn’t be required to register for the draft – not because they can’t serve effectively, but because chasing "equity" over military readiness threatens the fabric of our nation.
- “Don’t Include Women in the Draft” –Matt Schoenfeldt, National Review
- “Don't draft our daughters for front-line combat” –US Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX)
- “Maybe women should be subject to the draft” –Robert Schmad, Washington Examiner
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