No designated survivor: Key changes for Biden’s speech to Congress amid COVID

There won’t be a designated survivor selected from President Biden’s cabinet to sit out his first speech to Congress on Wednesday — discontinuing a typically buzzy choice for the person to lead the free world if the Capitol is attacked mid-speech.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday the decision was rendered unnecessary because only two of Biden’s 15 cabinet secretaries will attend the pandemic-limited event in the House of Representatives. A 1947 law says that if the president and vice president both die, the House speaker — currently Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) — becomes president. Pelosi is expected to attend Biden’s speech.