Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, seen here in a file photo, is the “designated survivor for the State of the Union address. Acting Cabinet officials, of course, can still attend the State of the Union. Once the president has returned to the White House, the designated survivor is relieved of his or her duties. He would see whether any Cabinet official was already traveling around the speech and seeing if that secretary could get to a secure location wherever they were. Lu would also examine the themes of Obama’s speech and try not to ask a Cabinet official whose policy areas would be featured to sit out the address.

Source: Washington Post February 06, 2019 02:26 UTC