During the ongoing negotiations related to the National Defense Authorization Act for FY2025 (S.4638), the Democrat-controlled Senate Armed Services Committee has voted for universal Selective Service registration that would have women register for the draft.
Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, argues those behind the bill have managed to advance it through the Senate committee on a bipartisan vote because they have attached to it something she has dubbed the "Combat Carve-Out Ploy."
"The sponsors said we'll make sure that women won't be subjected to combat if there is a future war that requires the reinstitution of the draft," she explains to AFN. "… The language says that it would exempt female draftees from being 'compelled to join combat roles' that were closed to women prior to December 3, 2015."
Donnelly describes the ploy as a" false promise and an irresponsible ruse" that should have fooled no one on the Senate committee – but three GOP senators "bought it anyway," says her organization.
"… It makes 'Draft Our Daughters' no more acceptable than it has been in previous years," exclaims Donnelly. "Officials who cannot define what a woman is cannot be trusted to define what combat is – especially during a time of chaotic national emergency when the greatest need for casualty replacements in an actual war would be in those combat arms units that women supposedly would be exempt from."
Negotiations are ongoing between the House and Senate for a final version of the NDAA 2025 to be approved.
