New Proposal by Senate Democrats: Women Must Register for Draft

(LibertySociety.com) – Drafting and passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) almost always leads to the same old arguments between political parties. Far-left radical progressives spew their rehearsed talking points about decreasing defense spending and the Republicans focus on ensuring that no money is included that will fund abortions, climate change measures, or other radical agenda initiatives. The House version of the bill passed with the support of just six Democrats. The Senate’s bill passed out of committee but has not made it to the floor for debate and amendments.

The Democrats included a provision that would force women to sign up for the draft, which prompted instant backlash from Republicans. While the idea has been proposed in the past, it remains wildly unpopular. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed, D-R.I., downplayed the addition of the provision. He argued that it made “sense” because women are in the military. Mississippi Republican Rep. Roger Wicker, the committee’s ranking member, said he would fight for its removal from the bill. Wicker previously argued in 2021 that it was not right “to compel their service by law,” but praised the women who serve voluntarily.

Senate candidate Sam Brown, who is running to unseat incumbent Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen, voiced his opposition to the provision in a video post on X, formerly Twitter. He blasted Rosen for voting to include the provision in the NDAA. Brown’s wife also served in the military, but he emphasized that her decision was voluntary. The draft has been utilized in six wars since its inception but not since the Vietnam War. It will likely not be necessary any time soon either. However, American troops are currently involved in conflicts across the Middle East and in the Red Sea as a result of the Hamas terrorist attack against Israel. Last October, the Department of Defense said there had been no recommendations for conscription, which must be authorized by the President of the United States or Congress.