US Energy Secretary Rick Perry was the ‘designated survivor’ for Donald Trump’s State of the Union address
- By tradition, one Cabinet secretary is closeted away at a secure, undisclosed location to ensure continuity of government in case disaster strikes
US Secretary of Energy Rick Perry was the so-called designated survivor to stay behind during Donald Trump’s State of the Union address.
On the evening of every State of the Union address since the 1960s, one cabinet-level White House official has been selected as a the “designated survivor” to spend the evening in a secure location with a security detail and the nuclear codes.
The State of the Union is typically attended by the president, vice-president, members from both chambers of Congress, several or all nine Supreme Court justices, and the Cabinet.
In the event of a disaster event, an official confirmed by the US Senate would be in a secure locale and ready to take over the reins of government.
In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, however, the Secret Service greatly increased the secrecy and security around the designated survivor experience.