> Annual budget $31.3 million (FY 2024)

If it hasn’t been used in 50 years, is there some other use for the registry or the organization or why hasn’t this been cut yet?

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dogemaster2026 2 days ago | parent | next [-]

Under U.S. federal law, men ages 18–25 must register with the Selective Service System to be eligible for most federal jobs. Federal agencies enforce this under hiring rules in 5 U.S.C. § 3328.

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pyuser583 2 days ago | parent [-]

The wording is a bit strange - technically all men (18-25) must register. When I tried to register, I was told I couldn't because I was already registered.

The Selective Service auto-registers people from various data sources.

But this puts me in a weird spot: I've never actually registered. I am registered. But I did not register - which is the requirement.

There are Kafka-esque parts of the US government where this distinction could matter.

	▲	salawat a day ago \| parent [-]
		You did register, you just didn't realize you did. Time honored tradition in the U.S.

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fhdkweig 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Keeping it around just in case the US encounters an existential threat. You never know when it may happen.

	▲	hdgvhicv 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Probably July by this rate

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pyuser583 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

No other use for the registry.

Informally, it's put forward as one of the most successful government programs in history: it succeeds at all it's objective, comes in at or under budget, employs few people, and avoids the scope creep that kills other successful programs.

It's only shortcoming: it doesn't actually do anything.

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delecti 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Nobody wants to be the guy who got the nation caught with its pants down if conscription needs to come back in a hurry. The same reason the military budget always ratchets upwards.

	▲	wat10000 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Measured as a percentage of GDP (which I'd say is the most sensible way to measure it) the US's current military budget is lower than at any point since WWII aside from a few years between the end of the Cold War and 9/11.

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RandomLensman 2 days ago | parent | prev | next [-]

The Army of the United States has also not been used in over 50 years,but does that mean it couldn't be used again?

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t-3 2 days ago | parent [-]

Can I move to whichever dimension it is you live in?

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RandomLensman 2 days ago | parent [-]

? The United States Army is something different...

	▲	DANmode 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Struggling to see the relevance, but, thank you for teaching me this: The U.S. Army is the permanent, professional standing land force (Regular Army, Reserves, National Guard), while the Army of the United States (AUS) was a temporary, authorized component used primarily during major wars to rapidly expand forces through draftees and volunteers.

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2 days ago | parent | prev [-]

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