Heightened tensions following the United States’ June 21 attack on Iranian nuclear facilities has brought the specter of a military draft to the forefront of the minds of many.

The U.S. struck three nuclear sites at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on June 21 in what has been dubbed “Operation Midnight Hammer.”

In a June 22 Truth Social post, President Donald Trump said he was open to a regime change in the country, hours after Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. did not want a regime change.

There are currently no bills before Congress to institute a draft, however the Washington Post reported last year that influential former administration officials as well as some GOP lawmakers have publicly suggested a “national service mandate.”

Here’s what you need to know about a possible military draft.

When was the last time the draft was used?

The last draft call occurred in 1972, according to Air & Space Forces Magazine, and the draft was announced to be no longer in use by then Secretary of Defense Melvin Laird on Jan. 27, 1973.

The final person inducted into the U.S. military – Dwight Elliott Stone, a 24-year-old apprentice plumber from Sacramento, California, – entered the Army on June 30, 1973, according to the magazine.

Fallout of US attack on Iran: US warns of ‘heightened threat environment’ after strikes on Iran nukes

Who would be in charge of reinstating the draft?

Legislation would need to be passed through Congress amending the Military Selective Service Act in order to reinstate a draft, according to the Selective Service Agency.

In 2015, then New York Democratic Representative Charles Rangel introduced a bill to reinstate a draft alongside a “War Tax” bill to point out the inequity of war as then President Barack Obama attempted to galvanize support for an Authorization for Use of Military Force against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.

“When I served, the entire nation shared the sacrifices through the draft and increased taxes. But today, only a fraction of America shoulders the burden. If war is truly necessary, we must all come together to support and defend our nation,” Rangle, who served in the Korean War, said in a statement at the time, according to The Hill.

Who would be eligible for a draft?

Currently, all men between 18 and 25 are required to register with the Selective Service System.

The Selective Service Agency states that, should a draft be reinstated, the first to receive induction orders would be those who turn 20 years old during the year of the lottery.

Additional drafts would follow for those turning 21 through 25, then 19 and 18 would occur if additional soldiers were required.

Who would be ineligible for the draft?

All of those who have registered with the Selective Service are presumed to be eligible to be drafted.

The only exemptions from Selective Service registration are if a man:

Is placed in a hospital, nursing home, long-term care facility, or mental institution on or before his 18th birthday, had no breaks of institutionalization of 30 days or longer, and remained institutionalized until his 26th birthday.

Is confined to his home, whether his own or someone else’s (including group homes), on or before his 18th birthday and cannot leave the home without medical assistance and remains homebound until his 26th birthday.

A draftee could request to be reclassified, including as a conscientious objector, after he is drafted but before the day he is due to report.

High school and college students can ask for service to be postponed while draftees can request hardship deferments.

Ministers, certain elected officials and some dual nationals would be exempt from the draft.

New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York City, United States [Photo by ajay_suresh / CC BY 2.0

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York plans to cut its workforce by 2 percent, a spokesperson announced last week. Given that the hospital employs about 50,000 workers, this announcement means that about 1,000 workers will lose their jobs. The hospital has not said which types of workers would be affected or whether they would receive severance pay or other benefits. Nor has it provided a timeline for the cuts.

NewYork-Presbyterian is a nonprofit medical center with eight campuses in the greater New York area. It is the main teaching hospital for Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and for Weill Cornell Medicine. The hospital has more than 4,000 beds and receives more than 2 million visits each year, including more than 620,000 emergency department visits and about 22,000 infant deliveries.

The layoffs are a response to “current macroeconomic realities and anticipated challenges ahead,” the hospital spokesperson said. NewYork-Presbyterian reported $10.3 billion in revenue in its December 2023 filing with the Internal Revenue Service.

“The magnitude of what’s happening at the federal level plus the magnitude, quite frankly, of our loss of volumes across the board has mandated that we need to take this action,” CEO Steven J. Corwin said in a message to the hospital’s workers. Corwin received $14.6 million in compensation in 2023, according to the IRS filing. He is among the highest paid hospital CEOs in the United States.

NewYork-Presbyterian announced the coming layoffs only four days after it agreed, along with Columbia University, to pay $750 million to settle a sexual abuse case from 2023. In all, 576 patients reported having been sexually abused by former gynecologist Robert Hadden, MD, between 1987 and 2012. Hadden was arrested in September 2020, convicted in July 2023 and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

The two main unions present at NewYork-Presbyterian are the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and 1199SEIU. Neither has made any public statement opposing the announced layoffs.

NYSNA is not a defender of nurses’ jobs but a partner of management in preventing strikes and imposing concessions on its members. In 2022, about 17,000 nurses at 12 New York hospitals, including NewYork-Presbyterian, voted almost unanimously to strike if no agreement was reached by the time their contract expired on December 31. They demanded better pay, an end to overwork and better staffing. But instead of leading a powerful, united strike, NYSNA kept nurses divided and negotiated tentative agreements with the hospitals one by one. The agreement with NewYork-Presbyterian, which included a cut to real wages and did not meaningfully address nurses’ demands for better staffing, became the template for the other hospitals.

Health systems also find a willing collaborator in 1199SEIU. The union did not lead workers in a struggle against the closure of Mount Sinai Beth Israel Hospital in New York, which occurred in April. A transporter at that hospital told the World Socialist Web Site that union representatives were scarce during the period before the closure. Moreover, during the same period, the main Mount Sinai Hospital fired a succession of workers without the least opposition from 1199SEIU.

The announced layoffs at NewYork-Presbyterian are the latest in a wave of attacks on healthcare workers. In recent months, the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, Penn Medicine in Philadelphia, Yale New Haven Health in Connecticut, Mass General Brigham in Boston, Jefferson Health in Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley Health Network in Pennsylvania have all cut workers or administrators. Many of them have cited financial challenges as the reason for the layoffs, even as their executives continue to receive millions of dollars in compensation.

These cuts are occurring in the context of a coordinated assault on health and science by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump plans to cut $40 billion from the HHS budget, or about one-third of its discretionary budget. The targets include the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (which will lose all its chronic disease programs), the Food and Drug Administration and rural health programs. Significant cuts and restrictions to Medicaid, which provides aid to poor patients, have been proposed as well.

This wrecking operation is the response of the American ruling class to its unprecedented economic crisis. The national debt is approximately $36.2 trillion, which is equivalent to, if not greater than, the annual gross domestic product. This untenable situation has raised doubt about the dollar’s continued role as the world’s reserve currency. This doubt is reflected in record high gold prices. The US ruling class seeks to extricate itself from this crisis through wars of plunder abroad and through the increased exploitation of the working class at home. The money cut from the HHS budget will be redirected toward military expenses and tax cuts for the corporate and financial elite. These cuts will affect public health not only in the US, but also throughout the world.

The fight to defend healthcare workers’ jobs at NewYork-Presbyterian, and at hospitals nationwide, is inseparable from the fight against capitalism, which subordinates all other considerations to profit. The record of NYSNA and 1199SEIU shows that the unions will not lead such a fight. In fact, they are actively working to block it. As they collaborate with management, they also seek to bind workers to the Democratic Party, which is no less a party of Wall Street and war than the Republican Party is.

Healthcare workers will not be able to make gains unless they establish their organizational independence from the trade unions and their political independence from the capitalist parties. The first step in this direction is the formation of rank-and-file committees of healthcare workers. Democratically controlled by the workers, these committees will be the forum in which workers can identify their demands and develop a fighting strategy for winning them. These committees also can reach out to each other and to other sections of the working class, thus breaking the isolation that the healthcare unions impose on them. Through this strategy, healthcare workers can wage a powerful and united struggle to defend jobs and public health.

This week, Cornell University announced efforts to reduce its budget amid financial turmoil following federal funding cuts.

The university is the largest employer in Tompkins County, employing 11,285 people. Cornell officials did not specify how large cuts or potential layoffs will be or where they will be made.

WSKG’s Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo spoke with Ithaca reporter Aurora Berry about what the news means for people who work and study at Cornell, and the larger Tompkins County community.

*This transcript has been edited for clarity and to add additional context.

Phoebe Taylor-Vuolo: So what’s going on over at Cornell?

Aurora Berry: On Wednesday Cornell released a statement on the financial challenges the university is facing, and the austerity measures that are going to be implemented because of those challenges.

The message included plans to quote “reduce Cornell’s workforce.” The university anticipates that including “involuntary reductions in headcount,” according to the statement.

They didn’t give any more details about how many people would be involuntarily reduced or where those reductions would occur.

PTV: So, “involuntary reductions,” are we talking about layoffs?

AB: That seems to be what they mean by that. They say they would like to downsize through attrition but “anticipate involuntary reduction” in staff across the university.

PTV: Are there other things they’re doing to cut the budget in addition to potential layoffs?

AB: Absolutely. According to the statement, Cornell is reviewing all of its programs, with the stated goal of making things more efficient and reducing duplication of work.

There’s also a plan to review research operations for efficiency, the university is extending a hiring freeze it’s had in place since March, and it is also going to make cuts to things like travel funding.

The university also says it is preparing to unify its information systems, and said they “will pursue opportunities to simplify and consolidate operations and deploy technology where appropriate.”

PTV: Did they say what kind of technology?

AB: Great question, Phoebe. We reached out to the university to see what they meant by that and haven’t heard back yet. Because of predictions we’ve seen on a national level about the use of [artificial intelligence] in white collar positions, I did specifically ask if that included AI. But we didn’t get a response, so we don’t know. It remains unclear.

PTV: What does this news mean for Ithaca and Tompkins County?

AB: It remains to be seen what impact this financial austerity will have on Ithaca and Tompkins County. The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce has Cornell listed as the largest employer in the county.

To give you some perspective on what that means in this particular community, the next nine employers on the list—that includes Cayuga health system, Wegmans, the county, and Ithaca college—they employ around 9,000 people altogether, whereas Cornell alone employs almost 11,300 people.

So what we’ve seen here is a major announcement of financial turmoil at the county’s largest employer by a long shot.

PTV: What should we know about how we got here?

AB: The main thing to know here is that the way that the federal government is interacting with private institutions like Cornell has changed dramatically since Trump took office, and those changes have had a major negative impact on the finances of universities across the country.

At Cornell, we’ve seen the loss or delay of federal dollars for research funding of all kinds: USDA layoffs, cuts to indirect costs with National Institutes of Health Funding, and the cancellation of a reported $1 billion in federal funding, to name a few of the setbacks the university has faced over the last few months.

PTV: It sounds like, from what you’re saying, these financial changes at Cornell have been on the horizon for a little while.

AB: This isn’t the first indicator that we’ve seen of universities adapting to the financial challenges posed by this administration. Cornell instituted a hiring freeze in March that has been extended as part of this financial austerity plan.

And Cornell isn’t unique in this, we’ve seen lots of different universities institute hiring freezes and other measures, including Columbia University’s medical school, Stanford, MIT, and Northwestern.

The other thing is Cornell and other universities are challenging a lot of these changes, and that can be expensive too.

The statement from Cornell referenced the costs of legal battles. Cornell is involved in a couple of lawsuits over the changes we’ve seen. Just on Monday, we saw Cornell join a lawsuit over proposed caps on indirect costs for Department of Defense awards. This is the fourth time that they’ve joined a lawsuit like this this year.

PTV: Is this federal intervention the sole reason for all of the financial stress and uncertainty that the university is dealing with?

AB: It certainly seems to be the main cause of this, but they say there are other contributing factors, citing increased costs due to inflation and the growth of Cornell‘s workforce since June 2021.

PTV: What are you watching for going forward? What questions does this raise for you as a local reporter?

AB: I’m going to be watching how potential staffing cuts impact our economy and the lives of people who live here and are employed by the university.

We’ve already seen the cost of living rise pretty significantly in recent years, and it’s hard to see this as anything other than a disrupting factor, economically speaking. Although I’d like to stress again that we don’t know the scale of staff reductions yet and what exactly that’s going to look like.

Another thing I’m looking at is the state of universities now that we’re seeing more of a separation from the federal government. Research universities and the federal government have a long history together. What research and universities will look like now that there’s a disentangling happening is anybody’s guess. So that’s what I’m looking at on a larger level.

PTV: Well, I’m looking forward to following your reporting on this. Thanks for sitting down and explaining all of this, Aurora.

AB: Thanks, Phoebe.

PTV: You can keep track of Aurora’s continuing coverage of this news and what it means for the many people who work and study at Cornell, and the larger Tompkins County community, at WSKG.org.

New York Connect Team

USA Today Network

A heat wave is gripping New York, with temperatures climbing into the low to mid-90s through Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters say heat index values — which factor in humidity — could exceed 100°F in some areas, especially on Monday, with some areas possibly hitting 105°F.

Forecast at a glance

Sunday–Tuesday: Highs above 90°F, peak heat Monday

Highs above 90°F, peak heat Monday Wednesday: Cooler, with temps dropping to the low 80s

Health risks & safety tips

High heat and humidity can cause heat-related illnesses, particularly among children, older adults, and people with preexisting conditions. Residents are urged to:

Stay in air-conditioned spaces

Avoid prolonged outdoor activity

Stay hydrated

Never leave children or pets in vehicles

How to keep pets safe in the heat

Signs of Heatstroke in Pets:

Rapid or loud breathing

Extreme thirst or heavy drooling

Vomiting or disorientation

Bright red gums or tongue

Lethargy or weakness

Thick saliva, rapid heartbeat

If you suspect heatstroke, move your pet to a cool area immediately and seek veterinary help. Cool them down using water, fans, or by submerging them in lukewarm (not ice-cold) water. Dehydration symptoms in pets include dry gums, sunken eyes, lethargy, and reduced skin elasticity.

Pet cooling essentials

Battery-powered fans

Cooling vests and pads

and pads Spray bottle with cool water (focus on underside and paw pads)

with cool water (focus on underside and paw pads) Rubbing alcohol for paws and ears (evaporates faster than water)

for paws and ears (evaporates faster than water) Electrolyte solution (unflavored) for hydration

(unflavored) for hydration Ice cubes or bone broth to encourage drinking

to encourage drinking Important: Use a rectal thermometer to monitor for fever — anything above 102.5°F is dangerous.

Additional tips

Avoid walking dogs on hot asphalt – stick to grass, early mornings, or evenings.

– stick to grass, early mornings, or evenings. Never shave your pet – fur acts as insulation. Light trimming is OK.

– fur acts as insulation. Light trimming is OK. Use pet-safe sunscreen on pink-nosed or white-haired animals.

on pink-nosed or white-haired animals. Schedule a vet check-up before peak summer – confirm vaccinations and test for heartworm.

Contributing: Democrat and Chronicle reporter Madison Scott

ITHACA, N.Y. — Cornell University has announced impending layoffs and spending cuts for the upcoming academic year, citing federal funding cuts.

It is the first time the school has announced direct staffing cuts after the Trump administration announced it would pause federal contracts and grants to the Ivy League institution, reportedly totaling some $1 billion, amid a slew of other federal impacts on the school.

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff and other university leaders delivered the news via a campus-wide email Wednesday afternoon.

The letter announced the initiation of a “comprehensive review of programs and headcount across the university,” caused by a 15% growth in the workforce since 2021 that has, in Kotlikoff’s words, “greatly outpac[ed] our revenue.”

Kotlikoff wrote that the pre-existing hiring freeze the school instituted in February will remain in place for the full 2025-2026 academic year along with restrictions on discretionary spending on travel, food and purchasing orders.

Kotlikoff said the school will also attempt to consolidate and “deploy technology where appropriate,” and research operations will be reviewed to “make them more cost effective and efficient.”

The implementation of the new strategy will likely include layoffs, Kotlikoff said. Cornell is easily Tompkins County’s largest employer, with over 11,000 workers. No specific reduction target was disclosed in the letter.

“These efforts will reduce Cornell’s workforce — a necessity to ensure Cornell’s long-term financial viability,” Kotlikoff wrote. “While we will make every effort to downsize by attrition, we anticipate involuntary reductions in headcount across the university.”

Kotlikoff said he expects further cuts and other challenges to higher education funding throughout President Donald Trump’s second term. Cornell, like other prominent higher education institutions nationwide, has become a target for particularly severe cuts as the Trump administration attempts to curb programs on diversity, equity and inclusion and address alleged antisemitism on campus.

In addition to cuts from the executive branch, Kotlikoff’s letter also refers to a proposed congressional bill that would significantly increase taxes on Cornell’s $10 billion endowment, along with those of the country’s other top universities.

The letter also mentions “rapidly escalating legal expenses,” likely referring to current and future litigation to fight the Trump administration’s cuts aimed at higher education. Cornell has joined other universities in multiple lawsuits against the administration already.

“These acute funding challenges come as Cornell has experienced a marked and unsustainable increase in expenses due to inflation, the expansion of our workforce, and other cost pressures,” according to the email.

Kotlikoff’s email states that the school must “immediately address [its] significant financial shortfalls” by cutting costs and “enacting permanent change” to the school’s operations.

“This will require financial austerity in all areas of the university, as we comprehensively review and restructure university operations and programs, and it will require the participation and support of everyone at Cornell, as we seek the optimal ways to reduce costs while maintaining, to the maximum extent possible, the strength of our academic community,” Kotlikoff wrote.