The Hill News

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsak is serving as the "designated survivor" for Tuesday's State of the Union address, according to White House officials. 

One member of the Cabinet does not attend the president's address to a joint session of Congress as a "designated survivor" to ensure that if something were to happen to the government officials gathered at the Capitol, there would still be someone to serve as head of government.

Vilsak is ninth in the chain of presidential succession.

In 2011, Interior Secretary Ken Salazaar was the "designated survivor."