Who is this year’s “designated survivor” on State of the Union?

According to the Constitution Center, the tradition of “designated survivors” dates back to the Cold War. He usually requires a member of the President’s Cabinet to be absent from State of the Union meetings, inaugurations, and presidential speeches in joint sessions of Congress in case the US Capitol falls into a catastrophe.

Walsh is expected to leave the Biden administration soon to lead the National Hockey League Players Association, two people familiar with his plans told The Associated Press Tuesday, just hours before the president’s speech.

Last year, Trade Minister Gina Raimondo was declared a survivor.

During Biden’s first speech to a joint session of Congress in 2021, there were no designated survivors because most of the cabinet did not attend the speech in person due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The State of the Union is designated a “special national security event” that paves the way for communication, funding, and training among multiple agencies in Washington, including the Capitol Police, the Pentagon, Homeland Security, and the District Police. Other such events include the Super Bowl and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.