In the event the worst happens during tonight’s State of the Union address, Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will become the next President of the United States. 
 
 The so-called “designated survivor,” Foxx will watch the address from a secure undisclosed location protected by the U.S. Secret Service, ready to take command should a catastrophe kill those in attendance at the annual address. As Secretary of Transportation, Foxx would usually be the 14th in the line of presidential succession, but gets a bump to 13th because Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is a naturalized citizen. 
 
 The designated survivor in 2014 was Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. 
 
 Foxx’s selection comes as transportation and infrastructure have dropped from the list of administration priorities, as the Republicans and Democrats have been unable to agree on funding sources. 
 
 The designated survivor tradition dates back to Cold War over fears of a nuclear attack wiping out the country’s political and military leadership. A low-level official is usually selected, so that recognizable Cabinet officers will be seen in audience shots during the president’s address. The role took on a more serious note after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, with heightened security and secrecy. ||||| Obama's 'designated survivor': Anthony Foxx 
 
 This year's designated survivor for the State of the Union speech: Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. 
 
 (Photo: Mark Wilson, Getty Images) 
 
 The Cabinet member who is picked to be the "designated survivor" has a grim task: Stay away from the U.S. Capitol on Tuesday night, and be prepared to help run the government if a catastrophic event wipes out the government leaders attending the State of the Union speech. 
 
 Last year, President Obama tapped Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz to stay away from the speech. 
 
 Previous designations have included former Energy secretary Steven Chu, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, former Interior secretary Ken Salazar, former Housing and Urban Development secretary Shaun Donovan and Attorney General Eric Holder. 
 
 Members of Congress are also asked not to attend the State of the Union ceremony in case they need to assume power in an emergency. 
 
 Last year, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., then President pro tem and third in line for the presidency, watched the speech from an undisclosed location. 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1J8MPAC
– It's not the most pleasant of duties, but Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx is this year's "designated survivor" during the State of the Union speech, reports USA Today. Meaning, if something catastrophic happens during President Obama's address that wipes out US leadership, Foxx will be the man in charge. As such, he will watch from an undisclosed location under the protection of the Secret Service. Time notes that Foxx would normally be 14th in line to the presidency, but he "gets a bump to 13th because Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell is a naturalized citizen."