Continuity of Operations Plan

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The Continuity of Operations Plan refers to the preparations and institutions maintained by the U.S. Government, providing survival of government operations in the case of catastrophic events.

Contents

[edit] History

A Continuity of Operations Plan (or Continuity of Government Plan) has been a part of government operations since at least the Cold War, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower provided by executive order various measures which were supposed to ensure that the government of the United States would be able to continue in case of nuclear war. For many years these plans were kept tightly under wraps, partly out of fear that detailed knowledge of these plans would enable the Soviet Union to more effectively launch a nuclear attack and partly out of fear of the public panic that would no doubt follow a revelation that their government was busily planning for post-apocalyptic survival. These plans were considered less important after the end of the Cold War but regained some prominence after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, when fears arose that terrorists could destroy significant parts of the government in a short space of time.

The secret nature of these plans have since created a whole host of conspiracy theories on the supposed "true agenda" of the Continuity of Operations program. Much of the government's plans for post-nuclear war survival remain secret, and some of the measures that are known are controversial.

These measures included construction of underground facilities such as "Mount Weather," a hollowed-out putatively nuclear-proof mountain in western Virginia (mailing address: Berryville, Virginia). The public can now tour one such facility, intended to house the entire U.S. Congress, on the grounds of the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Other provisions of the plans included executive orders that designated certain government officials to assume Cabinet and other Executive Branch positions and form a shadow government if the primary office holders were killed in a nuclear exchange. There has been a formal line of succession to the presidency since 1792 (currently to be found in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, (United States Code, Title 3, Section 19)). This runs from the Vice President to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, President pro tempore of the Senate, and then through the Cabinet Secretaries in a sequence specified by Congress.

These Cold War-era plans (both real and rumored) were criticized for, among other things,

  1. the danger that unelected persons could assume the Presidency and other appointed offices, using their sweeping emergency powers to create a dictatorship;
  2. the vast amounts of money spent on these programs;
  3. the contrast between the safe underground hideaways available to high government officials, and the relatively weak or nonexistent measures taken to protect members of the general public from nuclear attack;
  4. the idea that the ready availability of shelters would make any Dr. Strangelove types that might be at the Pentagon less averse to nuclear war;
  5. the rumored availability of the shelters to unpopular persons such as the Saudi royal family.

Today, the threat of a massive nuclear attack on the U.S. seems remote, and most of the reasons some once had for worry about the Continuity of Government plan have abated. Now, the bunkers are used for more mundane continuity-of-operations purposes, and the government workers who have to put in occasional shifts there complain that the facilities are old and musty.

The George W. Bush Administration put the Continuity of Operations plan into effect for the first time directly following the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack. Their implementation involves a rotating staff of 75 to 150 senior officials and other government workers from every Cabinet department and other parts of the executive branch in two secure bunkers on the East Coast. Friends, family and co-workers can only reach them through a toll-free number and personal extensions.

The Bush Administration officially admitted the implementation of the plan on March 1, 2002.[1][2] Key congressional leaders say they didn’t know this government-in-waiting had been established.[3][4]

Since 9/11, the newly created Department of Homeland Security has conducted three exercises to test continuity plans. The first, named Forward Challenge '04, took from May 12-13, 2004, and included more than 40 government agencies.[1] The second major exercise took place from June 20-24 in 2005. Titled Pinnacle, the exercise tested responses to various emergencies, including a hypothetical act of terrorism.[2] Forward Challenge '06 was the third major exercise, and took place on June 19, 2006. This reportedly involved near 4000 government personnel.[3]

[edit] Documents

A document named in italics supersedes the following document.

[edit] Clinton Administration

  • Federal Preparedness Circular 65, "Federal Executive Branch Continuity of Operations (COOP)", July 26, 1999
  • "Federal Response Plan" [FEMA 9230.1-PL], April 1999
  • Presidential Decision Directive 67, "Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations", October 21, 1998
  • 41 Code of Federal Regulations 101-2, "Occupant Emergency Program", revised as of July 1, 1998
  • 36 Code of Federal Regulations 1236, "Management of Vital Records", revised as of July 1, 1998
  • Presidential Decision Directive 63, "Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP)", May 22, 1998
  • Presidential Decision Directive 62, "Protection Against Unconventional Threats to the Homeland and Americans Overseas", May 22, 1998
  • FPC 65 Federal Response Planning Guidance 01-94, "Continuity of Operations (COOP)", December 4, 1994

[edit] George H. W. Bush Administration

  • PDD 67 National Security Directive 69, "Enduring Constitutional Government", June 2, 1992
  • FPC 65 Federal Preparedness Circular 61, "Emergency Succession to Key Positions of the Federal Departments and Agencies", August 2, 1991
  • FPC 65 Federal Preparedness Circular 62, "Delegation of Authorities for Emergency Situations", August 1, 1991
  • Federal Preparedness Circular 60, "Continuity of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government at the Headquarters Level During National Security Emergencies", November 20,1990
  • NSD 69 National Security Directive 37, "Enduring Constitutional Government", April 18, 1990

[edit] Reagan Administration

  • Executive Order 12656, "Assignment of Emergency Preparedness Responsibilities", November 18, 1988

Section 202 The head of each Federal department and agency shall ensure the continuity of essential functions in any national security emergency by providing for: succession to office and emergency delegation of authority in accordance with applicable law; safekeeping of essential resources, facilities, and records; and establishment of emergency operating capabilities.

  • Executive Order 12472, "Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Telecommunications Functions", April 3, 1984
  • NSD 69 NSDD 55, "Enduring National Leadership" September 14, 1982

[edit] Carter Administration

[edit] Truman Administration

  • The National Security Act of 1947, July 26, 1947

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Fact Sheet: Forward Challenge 04, Homeland Security Press Room. Accessed June 6, 2006.
  2. ^ Department of Homeland Security Announces Pinnacle Exercise to Test Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plans, Homeland Security Press Room. Accessed June 6, 2006.
  3. ^ Back to the Bunker, The Washington Post. Accessed June 6, 2006.

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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