Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is designated survivor for 2020 State of the Union

Interior Secretary David Bernhardt is the designated survivor for President Trump’s third State of the Union address, the White House said Tuesday night.

Bernhardt has served in Trump’s Cabinet since April. As secretary of the Interior, he is eighth in the presidential line of succession.

A member of the president’s Cabinet is selected each year to stay at an undisclosed location during the State of the Union to preserve the government’s succession in the case of a catastrophic incident at the Capitol, where Vice President Pence and Cabinet members are in attendance for Tuesday night’s speech.

Then-Energy Secretary Rick Perry served as the designated survivor during last year’s State of the Union and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue filled the role in 2018.

Bernhardt earlier Tuesday tweeted that he was looking forward to “hearing” Trump’s State of the Union address.

 

Brett Samuels contributed to this report.