Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin is Tuesday’s “designated survivor” during President Trump’s address to Congress.
A White House official confirmed that Shulkin will skip the speech and spend the evening in a secure location in case of emergency.
During each State of the Union or presidential address to a joint session of Congress, at least one Cabinet official sits out so that the administration can respond if there’s an attack on the Capitol.
{mosads}Shulkin, who was confirmed unanimously by the Senate, served as former President Barack Obama’s under secretary of health in the Veterans Affairs Department before his confirmation to lead the agency.
The Veterans Affairs secretary is the second-to-last in the presidential line of succession.