Trump’s Designated Survivor, David Shulkin, Is An Obama Appointee

UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 01: David Shulkin, nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary, testifies during his Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building, February 1, 2017. (Photo By Tom Wi... UNITED STATES - FEBRUARY 01: David Shulkin, nominee for Veterans Affairs secretary, testifies during his Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee confirmation hearing in Dirksen Building, February 1, 2017. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call) (CQ Roll Call via AP Images) MORE LESS
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The designated survivor from President Trump’s administration for his speech to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday is an Obama appointee.

The White House chose Veterans Affairs secretary David Shulkin, President Barack Obama’s undersecretary for health at the department, to be absent from Trump’s address to Congress.

The designated survivor is a Cabinet member chosen to skip the speech and remain in a physically removed, secure location in situations when the President and other top administration officials are gathered together in one location.

In case of a catastrophe, the designated survivor is the next in line to succeed the President and ensure continuity of government.

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