Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins has been named the designated survivor for President Donald Trump’s 2025 joint address to Congress, ensuring continuity of government in case of a catastrophic event during the high-profile gathering.
The White House confirmed Collins’ selection shortly before the speech on Tuesday night. As designated survivor, he was taken to a secure, undisclosed location while Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and top government officials convened in the Capitol. Collins, who was confirmed as VA Secretary on February 4, 2025, is 17th in the presidential line of succession.
What is a designated survivor?
A designated survivor is a cabinet member chosen to remain away from the event to ensure the continuity of government in case of an attack or disaster that incapacitates the leadership. The practice, which dates back to the Cold War era, was first officially recorded in 1981 when Education Secretary Terrel Bell was selected.
The designated survivor must meet presidential eligibility criteria, including being a natural-born US citizen and at least 35 years old. Some cabinet members in the past, such as former Secretaries of State Madeleine Albright and Henry Kissinger, were ineligible due to being born outside the US.
Former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, who served as the designated survivor in 1996, recalled, “I was shown the Situation Room and the White House staff talked seriously about the responsibility of the designated survivor.”
Who is Doug Collins?
Collins, a former congressman from Georgia’s 9th congressional district, served from 2013 to 2021 before being appointed Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He has a background in law, having worked as a managing partner at the Collins and Csider law firm since 2010. His military experience includes serving as a Navy chaplain in the late 1980s before joining the US Air Force Reserve Command, where he holds the rank of Colonel.
As VA Secretary, Collins oversees nearly 200 medical centers and manages a budget of approximately $350 billion, aiming to improve care quality and address veterans’ health challenges.
What happens during the speech?
Designated survivors are accompanied by security personnel, including a military officer carrying the “nuclear football.” Former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, who was the designated survivor in 2000, described the experience, saying, “It’s fun. You’re sitting there, you’re being watched. You got security. And there are a few thrills.”
Former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman, who held the role in the 1990s, wrote in a 2017 Politico essay, “I don’t recall getting any specific instructions on what to do if the doomsday scenario happened… All I knew is that if necessary, I could turn to that military officer accompanying me, holding that 45-pound bag, and trigger a military response, including a nuclear strike.”
Shalala, who remained in Washington during her time as designated survivor, recalled waiting at the White House and ordering pizza for her staff. “I saw the president when he left and when he came back,” she said. “He said, ‘Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.’”
With Collins now serving as the designated survivor for 2025, the long-standing tradition continues under the Trump administration to ensure government stability during the annual address.
