Hidden from the Spotlight: The Designated Survivor Explained

The designated survivor is a Cabinet member who, under presidential eligibility rules, sits at a secure location during the State of the Union to maintain continuity of government if the President is incapacitated; the practice dates to the Cold War and has seen previous Trump-era seconds serve (Interior, Energy, Agriculture Secretaries). This year, Congress has announced Rep. Mike Thompson as the designated survivor, though the White House has not yet named one.