With members of the presidential line of succession in the Capitol for President Trump's speech to the joint session of Congress, a designated survivor will be named to stay away in case of a catastrophic event.

A top government official named designated survivor to preserve the presidential line of succession in the event of a catastrophe.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins is this year’s designated survivor, according to a White House official, retreating from Washington to an undisclosed location during President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress Tuesday evening.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins is the designated survivor for President Donald Trump‘s speech to a joint session of Congress. Collins, a former congressman from Georgia, was confirmed to Trump’s Cabinet on Feb.

Northern California Rep. Mike Thompson has been selected by House Democrats as their "designated survivor" ahead of President Trump's joint address to Congress on Tuesday night.

Being the actual designated survivor brings extra adrenaline jolts and humbling thoughts about being unwittingly catapulted into the presidency and unthinkable tragedy — though the minute-to-minute details usually don’t feature the high drama of fictional portrayals, those who have filled the role say.

Doug Collins, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, is reportedly serving as the designated survivor during President Trump's joint address.

The so-called "designated survivor" is a person in the presidential line of succession that is intentionally not in attendance at major presidential events, most commonly the State of the Union, to ensure someone could assume the office of the president in case of a catastrophic or mass-casualty event.