The Senate Democratic majority has included a provision in the annual defense bill that would require women to register for the draft, sparking opposition from Republican lawmakers. The provision, which was added to the bill by Senate Democrats, would mandate women to sign up for the draft alongside men.
Committee Chairman Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI), a former Army veteran, expressed confusion about the opposition to the measure, stating that the military has become a mixed force and that women already serve alongside men. Reed believes it is only logical to require women to register for the draft as well.
However, Republican lawmakers, including Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS), have vehemently opposed the idea. Wicker, who has spoken out against the measure in the past, argued that compelling women to serve in the military against their will is wrong. He expressed his support for the women who voluntarily serve in the military, but opposed the idea of mandatory service.
The debate has also become a political issue in the 2022 midterm elections. Republican candidate Sam Brown, an Army veteran who was wounded in Afghanistan, has criticized Democratic incumbent Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-NV) for voting in favor of the provision. Brown, who is running against Rosen for a U.S. Senate seat in Nevada, has released a video in which he expresses his opposition to the measure and accuses Rosen of prioritizing the interests of politicians over the needs of American families.
The prospect of a draft is not currently imminent, as the U.S. military is engaged in conflicts in Iraq, Syria, the Red Sea, and Ukraine. However, the debate over the draft highlights the ongoing challenges facing the military and the country as a whole.
