Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins had a good reason for not attending President Donald Trump’s State of the Union Address on Feb. 24.
For the second year in a row, Collins served as the designated survivor during the address, a long-standing security precaution meant to preserve continuity of government in the event of a catastrophe, Fox News and other outlets reported.
The role of a designated survivor dates back to the Cold War and was formalized by the Carter and Reagan administrations amid fears that Soviet subs just off the Atlantic coast could fire nuclear missiles and wipe out Washington with barely 10 minutes’ warning, according to historian and journalist Garrett M. Graff, reported NBC4 Washington.
The State of the Union brings together the president, vice president, members of Congress, the Supreme Court and much of the Cabinet in a single location and presents a unique security concern because of that, Fox News reported.
If a devastating event were to occur and those ahead in the line of succession were killed or incapacitated, the designated survivor could be sworn in as president, as long as they meet constitutional requirements, according to numerous outlets. The designated survivor has never been called upon to assume the presidency.
Collins remained in a secure, undisclosed location throughout the address.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.