How a Designated Survivor Fits Into It All
Amid all the pomp and circumstance of a major national event, such as the State of the Union, one member of the U.S. Cabinet goes conspicuously missing. This person, known as the “survivor,” is pivotal to government continuity in the event of a catastrophe. Familiar to readers of the news or viewers of dramas on television since at least the 1960s, this practice is not merely a plot device; it is a serious security protocol intended to protect the nation’s top leadership.
Selection and Preparation
Process for Selecting a Designated Survivor
- Eligibility: Due to the presidential line of succession, this normally includes members of the Cabinet, but can also apply to other top-ranking officials.
- Security Fence: The survivor, selected by the Office of the President, is placed under the highest level of security, similar to a president, and is transported to an undisclosed safe location that can essentially act as a temporary White House.
Training and Briefings
- Confidential Briefings — Those designated as survivors are given specialized briefings to prepare for the rare chance that they will need to serve as president.
- Plays a crucial role in the emergency prepared information and data for national security and crisis wherever required, taking their end-to-end risk management capabilities.
The Psychological Impact
Living with the Possibility
- I believe: To Carry the Weight of Potential: This is the hardest part: Carrying the possibility of one day making the transition to President in a worst-case scenario.
- They are subjected to regular counseling and support mechanisms to help deal with this unique type of stress.
Legal and Constitutional Ramifications
Constitutional Safeguards
The provision of a designated survivor came about through the provisions within the U.S. Constitution regarding presidential succession, which guarantees that the government will remain functional, no matter what happens.
Transparency and Public Perception
Making Sense of the Role
In the past few years, there has been an emphasis on making the process more transparent to bring a better understanding of and faith in this contingency strategy.
FAQ: What Is a Designated Survivor?
- Q1: What do we know about who decides who the designated survivor is?
- A1: The determination is generally made by the President and their security detail, depending on the individual’s current capacity and line of succession.
- Q2: Have there been designated survivors whose members actually took office?
- A2: To date, no designated survivor has ever been called to assume the presidency because of a catastrophic event that impacted the entire leadership of the government.
- Q3: If the designated survivor doesn’t want to serve, what do we do?
- A3: Being a designated survivor is considered to be a matter of duty, and unless there are extenuating circumstances, the designated survivor generally does not have the option to opt out.
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