WASHINGTON Education Secretary Miguel Cardona has been chosen as the “designated survivor” for President Joe Biden’s upcoming third State of the Union address on Thursday.

FYI: It’s not just a show on Netflix, it’s real.

The tradition of the “designated survivor” traces its roots back to the Cold War era, as detailed by the Constitution Center. It entails the absence of a member of the president’s cabinet from events such as the State of the Union, inaugurations, and presidential speeches to joint sessions of Congress, should a catastrophic disaster strike the U.S. Capitol. The designated survivor is escorted to an undisclosed location by the Secret Service prior to the event.

Previously, then-Labor Secretary Marty Walsh fulfilled the role of designated survivor, with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo serving in the same capacity in 2022.

Notably, during Biden’s first address to a joint session of Congress in 2021, no designated survivor was appointed, as most of the cabinet did not attend the speech in person due to COVID-19 safety protocols.

The State of the Union address is classified as a “national special security event,” facilitating coordinated communication, funding, and preparation among various agencies in Washington, including the Capitol Police, Pentagon, Homeland Security, and local law enforcement.

Similar events given this designation include the Super Bowl and the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.