Military drafts feel like a relic of the past until the world gets loud. When headlines start buzzing about global conflict, the same question hits group chats and search bars across the country: Can trans people get drafted? Honestly, the answer is way more bureaucratic than most people realize. It’s not just about who you are today; it’s about a very specific piece of paper you were issued at birth.
The Selective Service System (SSS) is the agency that handles the "bottleneck" for potential military service in the U.S. If you're looking for a simple "yes" or "no," you're going to be disappointed. It’s a mess of policy, birth certificates, and historical legal holdovers.
How the Selective Service decides who registers
Registration is currently based on the sex assigned at birth. That is the hard line. If you were assigned male at birth (AMAB), the government expects you to register for the draft within 30 days of your 18th birthday. This applies even if you have fully transitioned, changed your legal gender markers on your driver’s license, or undergone gender-affirmation surgery.
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The SSS website is pretty blunt about this. They state that "individuals who are born male and have a changed gender identity can still be drafted." It feels contradictory to a lot of people. You might live your entire life as a woman, but in the eyes of the Selective Service database, you’re still on the list.
What about trans men? If you were assigned female at birth (AFAB), you are currently not required to register. Even if you have "Male" on your passport and birth certificate now, the SSS doesn’t want you in their database. If you apply for federal student aid or certain government jobs, you might actually need to get a "Status Information Letter" from the SSS. This letter basically proves you aren't registered because you weren't required to be, which helps avoid those awkward moments where a computer system thinks you’re a draft dodger.
The policy vs. the reality of serving
Registering for the draft and actually being forced to put on a uniform are two very different things.
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Since 1973, we’ve had an all-volunteer military. The draft exists as a "just in case" mechanism. If a national emergency actually triggered a draft, there would be a massive medical and psychological screening process. This is where things get complicated for the trans community.
Military policy regarding transgender service members has been a total rollercoaster over the last decade. We went from the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" era to the 2016 lifting of the ban under the Obama administration, then the 2017-2021 restrictions during the Trump administration, and finally the current Biden-Harris policy which allows trans people to serve openly.
But here is the kicker: medical fitness.
To be drafted, you have to be "fit for duty." If a trans person is in the middle of a complex medical transition, or if they have certain diagnoses related to gender dysphoria that require ongoing specialized care not available in a combat zone, they might be disqualified during the induction process. Essentially, you could be registered, called up, and then sent home at the processing center.
Why this matters for federal benefits
Most people don't think about the draft until they're filling out the FAFSA or applying for a job at the Post Office. For trans women, failing to register can have massive real-world consequences. We’re talking about losing out on Pell Grants, federal student loans, and eligibility for federal civil service positions.
If you’re a trans woman who didn't register because you didn't think it applied to you, you might find yourself stuck in a loop of bureaucratic red tape. You can’t just go back and register once you turn 26. After that age, the door is basically closed, and you have to prove that your failure to register wasn't "knowing and willful."
It’s a headache.
Trans men face the opposite issue. They often try to register because they want to "fit the system" of their correct gender, only to be rejected by the SSS. This is why that Status Information Letter (SIL) is so vital. It’s the "Get Out of Jail Free" card for AFAB trans people when dealing with government agencies that require draft registration.
Legal challenges and the future of the draft
The legality of a male-only draft is constantly being poked and prodded in the courts. Organizations like the National Coalition for Men have argued that a male-only draft is unconstitutional because it violates the Equal Protection Clause.
If the draft were ever expanded to include everyone regardless of sex assigned at birth, the specific questions about trans people would change overnight. But for now, we are stuck with a 20th-century system trying to navigate 21st-century identities.
Navigating the Selective Service as a trans person
If you are a trans woman or non-binary person assigned male at birth, the safest bet to protect your future benefits is to register. It doesn't mean you'll be heading to basic training tomorrow. It just keeps your paperwork clean.
For trans men, don't sweat the registration, but keep your records organized. If you're applying for federal benefits, you'll likely need to explain why you don't have a Selective Service number.
Actionable steps for managing your status
- For AMAB individuals (including trans women): If you are between 18 and 26, register at sss.gov. It takes five minutes. If you are over 26 and didn't register, request a Status Information Letter immediately to explain your situation before you apply for federal jobs or loans.
- For AFAB individuals (including trans men): Do not attempt to register, as the system will likely reject it or create a data error. Instead, download the "Request for Status Information Letter" form from the SSS website. You will need to provide a copy of your birth certificate showing your sex assigned at birth.
- Keep a "paper trail" folder: Store your original birth certificate, your updated birth certificate (if you have one), and any correspondence from the Selective Service. You don't want to be hunting for these documents when a job offer is on the line.
- Check your FAFSA status early: If you are a student, check your registration status months before tuition is due. Resolving an SSS discrepancy can take weeks or even months of mail-in correspondence.
The reality of whether trans people can get drafted is that the government still views the draft through a biological lens, while active military service views it through a policy lens. It’s a gap that requires a bit of administrative heavy lifting to navigate safely.