Group of senators introduces bill to end military draft
by Ellen Mitchell - 08/02/24 1:05 PM ET
A bipartisan group of senators has introduced legislation to end the military draft, calling it an “outdated” government program that no longer serves a purpose.
The bill, introduced Thursday by Sens. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), would repeal the Military Selective Service Act, commonly known as the draft. First passed in 1917 to fill the ranks during World War I, the law requires all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 45 to register for possible military service, but it has not been used since the Vietnam War.
“It has been over 50 years since the draft was last used,” Paul said in a statement on the bill. “I’ve long stated that if a war is worth fighting, Congress will vote to declare it and people will volunteer. This outdated government program no longer serves a purpose and should be eliminated permanently.”
https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4807876-senators-propose-ending-military-draft/