Rick Perry named 'designated survivor': State of the Union role explained

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'The Five' preview President Trump's State of the Union Address

Every member of President Trump’s Cabinet will be invited to attend his second State of the Union address on Feb. 5 – except one: Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

Perry was confirmed as the "designated survivor" just minutes before Trump is expected to step up to the podium to deliver his annual address to Congress. Last year, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue was tasked with the role.

Ahead of the speech, Perry will be taken to a secure and undisclosed location outside of Washington, D.C., where he is expected to stay with Secret Service agents until the conclusion of the event. When Trump and his Cabinet members safely exit the packed House chamber, the chosen official will be allowed to return home.

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Here’s what you need to know about the "designated survivor," a unique role that has been around for decades.

What does it mean to be the "designated survivor?"

Rick Perry was named the "designated survivor" during Trump's 2019 State of the Union address. (Getty Images)

During major political events, such as a presidential inauguration or State of the Union address, an official within the presidential line of succession is given the role of "designated survivor" and has to stay away from the event.

This precaution is taken to assure continuity in the presidency.

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If a catastrophic event were to strike the Capitol and result in the death or disablement of the president, vice president, speaker of the House or other White House officials, then the "designated survivor" could step in to be the acting commander-in-chief. However, it's worth noting only Senate-confirmed secretaries (and natural-born citizens) in the line of succession to the presidency can assume control of the government in a crisis.

When did this tradition begin?

This tradition dates back to the 1960s amid concerns of a potential nuclear attack during the Cold War.

But official records of "designated survivors" weren't kept until 1984, starting with Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Samuel R. Pierce Jr. during Ronald Reagan's State of the Union speech on Jan. 25, 1984.

Who has been chosen as the "designated survivor" over the years?

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue named "designated survivor" during Trump's SOTU speech on Jan. 30, 2018. (REUTERS/Mark Schiefelbein/Pool)

Perry was named the "designated survivor" for Trump's 2019 State of the Union address.

Last year, it was Sonny Perdue. As secretary of agriculture, Perdue would ordinarily rank low in the line of succession to the presidency — ninth on a list of 17 officials.

It's not unusual for a lesser-known Cabinet member to be selected, as the president may point out higher-profile officials as he mentions specific tasks and initiatives in his speech.

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Former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin was given the role during Trump's address to a joint session of Congress in 2017.

Here's a list of Cabinet members who were named "designated survivors" and did not attend the State of the Union over the past 10 years:

Jan. 30, 2018: Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue

Jan. 12, 2016: Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson

Jan. 20, 2015: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx

Jan. 28, 2014: Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz

Feb. 12, 2013: Energy Secretary Steven Chu

Jan. 24, 2012: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Jan. 25, 2011: Interior Secretary Ken Salazar

Jan. 27, 2010: Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan

Jan. 28, 2008: Secretary of the Interior Dirk Kempthorne

Jan. 23, 2007: Attorney General Alberto Gonzales

Fox News' Brooke Singman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.