Lawmakers have officially dropped plans to make women register for the draft, instead opting for a review of the ongoing need for the Selective Service System.
Early this year, Defense Secretary Ash Carter removed those restrictions, opening combat posts to women for the first time. In response, a collection of military leaders and women\u2019s rights advocates said they would support requiring women to now register for the draft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Instead, the final authorization bill draft\u00a0\u2014\u00a0expected to be voted on by Congress in the next few days\u00a0\u2014\u00a0calls for a review of the entire Selective Service System, to see if the idea of a military draft is still realistic and cost-effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n
The system has an annual budget of about $23 million, but watchdog groups have questioned whether the system could assemble a list of draftees if a national emergency were to arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And military leaders have repeatedly insisted they have no desire to return to the draft to fill the ranks. No Americans have been pressed into involuntary military service since the last draft ended in 1973.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Though Democrats are likely to renew debate on the issue next year, it\u2019s unlikely to progress far with Republicans set to control both chambers of Congress and the White House.<\/p>\n\n\n\n