Former President Donald Trump is accusing his Democratic presidential opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, of wanting to bring back the military draft.
At a Sept. 13 rally in Las Vegas, Trump said, “Would anybody like to be drafted, in the audience? Because that’s what they’re doing. She’s already talking about bringing back the draft. She wants to bring back the draft, and draft your child, and put them in a war that should never have happened.”
We couldn’t find any example of Harris as a presidential candidate expressing an opinion on bringing back the draft, and her campaign told PolitiFact, “We have no idea what he’s talking about.”
When we contacted Trump’s team, a Republican National Committee spokesperson pointed to a recent Senate proposal by “Kamala Harris’ top allies” to require women to register for the draft, a requirement that’s already in place for men.
But even if that provision is enacted, it’s not the same thing as “bringing back the draft.” Harris also hasn’t been “talking about” it.
What is the draft?
There currently is no draft — mandatory enrollment into the military — for any American. The U.S. military has been an all-volunteer force since 1973, as the Vietnam War was ending. The draft had become enormously unpopular after being deployed during Vietnam, when 58,000 Americans died.
However, the U.S. requires that male citizens and male immigrants ages 18 to 25 register with the federal Selective Service System, the agency responsible for running a draft in the event one is needed.
Instituting a draft if a national emergency arises would require an act of Congress. In that scenario, the Selective Service System would begin calling registered men for duty. In that scenario, the Selective Service System would conduct a National Draft Lottery to determine the order of selection based on birth date, with the first age group chosen being 20-year-old men during the year of the lottery.
Possible changes regarding women and draft registration
Congress has recently been working on the National Defense Authorization Act, an annual bill that sets a wide range of policies for the military. In the Senate, Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., the Armed Services chair, has expressed support for expanding the requirement to register for the draft to women, rather than just men.
Previous proposals have been blocked, often by Republicans. This year, Republicans are most outspokenly against it.
Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said on Fox News, “There shouldn’t be women in the draft. They shouldn’t be forced to serve if they don’t want to. … Normal people are like, ‘Leave our daughters alone.’”
The full Senate has not considered the legislation, and it’s unclear whether it will receive floor consideration before Election Day, Nov. 5.
Even if such a provision were to pass, Trump is exaggerating its effect. The provision would require women to register for the draft; it would not institute a draft.
Our ruling
Trump said Harris is “talking about bringing back the draft.”
Harris has talked about no such thing.
Trump’s campaign said he was referring to a Democratic senator’s proposal to require women turning 18 to register for the draft, just as men do. The chamber hasn’t voted on that provision.
Even if it were to pass, however, such a provision would not bring back the draft. That would require a separate action by Congress during a national emergency.
We rate the statement Pants on Fire!
By Louis Jacobson, PolitiFact staff writer