White House officials on Tuesday night confirmed that Veteran Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will be the designated survivor during President Donald Trump's joint address to Congress. 

The designated survivor practice dates back to the Cold War era, according to Politico, and places a Cabinet official in a separate undisclosed place from the speech in order to secure the presidential line of succession in case of a terror attack. 

Collins is the 17th person in line for the presidency.

Other recent designated survivors during former President Joe Biden's tenure were former Education Secretary Miguel Cardona in 2024, former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh in 2023, and former Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo in 2022.

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.