David Shulkin serves as designated survivor
WASHINGTON - When members of the Cabinet were escorted into the House Chamber last night, Secretary of Veterans Affairs David Shulkin wasn’t among them.
Hours earlier, he had been spirited to an “undisclosed location” to sit out the president’s speech, so in the event a catastrophe befell the U.S. Capitol, he would be the person in the constitutional line of succession to take over as acting president.
“I was honored to do it,” Shulkin said in a phone interview with CBS News on the day after.
He said he had received a call several days earlier from the office of White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, asking if he would be willing to serve in the capacity of a designated survivor -- though Shulkin said this was not the phrase used.
He didn’t tell anyone about his assignment. Not even his family. In fact, he said he misled them, letting them believe he would be in the House Chamber Tuesday evening for President Trump’s first address to Congress.
Instead, he watched the speech on TV at that undisclosed location, just outside Washington.
“I felt extremely proud,” he said of the assignment, and “extremely impressed” by the team of security and other officials assigned to accompany him and assist, if the unthinkable were to occur.
He said he felt thoroughly prepared for all contingencies and was comfortable assuming the role. Shulkin said that found it heartening to know that so much thought and effort went into arrangements to safeguard the continuity of the U.S. government.
Under the provisions of the Presidential Succession Act, the secretary of Veterans Affairs is 17th in the line of succession. That’s next to last, just before the Secretary of Homeland Security, who was added to the list by the Patriot Act in 2006.
Shulkin said he remained at the secret location until the president and others in the line of succession were safely returned to their homes. Only then, did his assignment end, and he was taken home himself -- with quite a story for his family.
Shulkin was confirmed as secretary of Veterans Affairs on Feb. 13 by a Senate vote of 100-0, another rare occurrence in Washington.
