President Biden has chosen his education secretary, Miguel Cardona, to be the designated survivor during Thursday night’s State of the Union address, ensuring that at least one decision maker would survive in the event of a calamity wiping out the nation’s leadership gathered at the Capitol.
This tradition dates back to the Cold War tensions of the 1950s, with the first publicly disclosed survivor being Terrel Bell, who served as education secretary to Ronald Reagan in 1981. Secretary Cardona will follow the evening’s proceedings from an undisclosed location, joining the ranks of those who have taken on this important role in the past.
The State of the Union address brings together many of the country’s top leaders, including members of the Supreme Court, Mr. Biden’s cabinet, lawmakers, and military officials. The Presidential Succession Act of 1947 establishes the line of succession, with the vice president, speaker of the House, and other key officials in line to become president if something were to happen to Mr. Biden.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo served as the designated survivor during Mr. Biden’s State of the Union speech in 2022, while Marty Walsh held the role in the previous year. In 2021, no designated survivor was chosen for the joint address to Congress due to Covid restrictions.
C.I.A. director William J Burns, who was recently made a member of the cabinet, will also not be at the State of the Union. He is in Doha, Qatar, meeting with officials to advance talks on a ceasefire and hostage release in Gaza. While not the official designated survivor, Mr. Burns could be considered a second backup survivor in the event of a catastrophe, as he will be away from the Capitol building.
The designated survivor plays a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of government in the face of potential threats, highlighting the importance of this longstanding tradition during high-profile events like the State of the Union address.
