United States federal government continuity of operations

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Continuity of Operations (COOP) is a United States federal government initiative, required by U.S. Presidential Policy Directive 40 (PPD-40), to ensure that agencies can continue performance of essential functions under a broad range of circumstances. PPD-40 specifies particular requirements for continuity plan development, including the requirement that all federal executive branch departments and agencies develop an integrated, overlapping continuity capability that supports the eight National Essential Functions described in the document.

Contents

The Federal Emergency Management Agency guides the private sector for business continuity planning purposes. [1] A continuity plan is essential to help identify critical functions and develop preventative measures to continue important functions should disruption occur. [1] [2]

History

A Continuity of Operations Plan (or Continuity of Government Plan) has been a part of U.S. government operations since President Dwight D. Eisenhower provided (via executive order) various measures designed to ensure that the government of the United States would be able to continue operating after a nuclear war. [3]

These measures included construction of underground facilities such as "Mount Weather", a putatively nuclear-weapon-proof facility in a hollowed-out mountain in northeastern Virginia; and Raven Rock Mountain Complex near Camp David in Maryland. The public can now tour one such facility, intended to house the entire United States Congress, on the grounds of the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Other provisions of the plans included executive orders designating certain government officials to assume Cabinet and other executive-branch positions and carry out the position's responsibilities if the primary officeholders are killed. [3]

There has been a formal line of succession to the presidency since 1792 (currently found in the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, 3 U.S.C.   § 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.

Continuity of government plans are not limited to the federal government. The majority of states have constitutional provisions that provide for the succession of government in the event of an "enemy attack". [4]

Continuity of Operations plan activated

The George W. Bush administration put the Continuity of Operations plan into effect for the first time directly following the September 11 attacks. Their implementation involved a rotating staff of 75 to 150 senior officials and other government workers from every federal executive department and other parts of the executive branch in two secure bunkers on the East Coast. Friends, family, and co-workers could reach them only through a toll-free number and personal extensions. The Bush administration did not acknowledge the implementation of the COG plan until March 1, 2002. [5] [6]

In 2007, Larry Sabato, a professor at the University of Virginia, criticized the incomplete nature of the plan in his book A More Perfect Constitution . In particular, he objected to the fact that there is no constitutional procedure for replacing U.S. House members in the case of a large-scale disaster that could potentially kill many representatives. Regarding the Continuity of Operations Plan, Sabato said it "failed outright" during the September 11 attacks.

Lack of congressional oversight

On July 18, 2007, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), a member of the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security at that time, requested the classified and more detailed version of the government's continuity-of-operations plan in a letter signed by him and the chairperson of the House Homeland Security Committee, which is supposed to have access to confidential government information.

To the surprise of the congressional committee, the president refused to provide the information. [7] [8] As of August 2007, efforts by the committee to secure a copy of the plan continued. [9] [10]

Documents

A document named in italics supersedes a previously published document.

Federal Continuity Directive 1 (FCD 1) is a 2017 directive released by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that provides doctrine and guidance to all federal organizations regarding the development of continuity program plans and capabilities. FCD 1 also serves as guidance to state, local, and tribal governments.

The Federal Continuity Directive 2 (FCD 2) of June 2017 is a directive to assist federal Executive Branch organizations in identifying their Mission Essential Functions (MEFs) and candidate Primary Mission Essential Functions (PMEFs). [11]

In July 2013, the DHS, together with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and in coordination with other non-federal partners, developed the Continuity Guidance Circular 1 (CGC 1) and CGC 2.

The preamble of the CGC 1 states that its function is to provide "direction to the non-Federal Governments (NFGs) for developing continuity plans and programs. Continuity planning facilitates the performance of essential functions during all-hazards emergencies or other situations that may disrupt normal operations. By continuing the performance of essential functions through a catastrophic emergency, the State, territorial, tribal, and local governments, and the private sector support the ability of the Federal Government to perform National Essential Functions (NEFs)."

CGC 1 closely parallels the information in FCD 1 but is geared toward states, territories, tribal and local governments, and private-sector organizations.

The purpose of Continuity Guidance Circular 2 (CGC 2) is to provide "non-Federal Governments (NFGs) with guidance on how to implement CGC 1, Annex D: ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS. It provides them with guidance, a methodology, and checklists to identify, assess, and validate their essential functions. This CGC includes guidance for conducting a continuity Business Process Analysis (BPA), Business Impact Analysis (BIA), and a risk assessment that will identify essential function relationships, interdependencies, time sensitivities, threats and vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies." [12] [13]

Truman administration

Eisenhower administration

Carter administration

Reagan administration

An unknown contingency plan (which some[ who? ] believe was Rex 84) was publicly mentioned during the Iran-Contra Hearings in 1987. [14] Transcripts from the hearing in the New York Times record the following dialogue between Congressman Jack Brooks, Oliver North's attorney Brendan Sullivan and Senator Daniel Inouye, the Democratic Chair of the Committee: [15]

[Congressman Jack] Brooks: Colonel North, in your work at the N.S.C. were you not assigned, at one time, to work on plans for the continuity of government in the event of a major disaster?

Brendan Sullivan [North's counsel, agitatedly]: Mr. Chairman?

[Senator Daniel] Inouye: I believe that question touches upon a highly sensitive and classified area, so may I request that you not touch upon that?

Brooks: I was particularly concerned, Mr. Chairman, because I read in Miami papers, and several others, that there had been a plan developed, by that same agency, a contingency plan in the event of emergency, that would suspend the American constitution. And I was deeply concerned about it and wondered if that was an area in which he had worked. I believe that it was, and I wanted to get his confirmation.

Inouye: May I most respectfully request that that matter not be touched upon at this stage. If we wish to get into this, I'm certain arrangements can be made for an executive session.

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.

George H. W. Bush administration

Clinton administration

George W. Bush administration

Hardware and facilities

The Continuity of Operations Plan involves numerous bunkers, special airplanes, and communication systems. Much of the information about them is classified; however, the government has released information on various systems or described them to the public by reporters and writers. Since many of the details are classified, the public information may be incorrect. Also, they are subject to change without public notice, so this list may not reflect current plans.

Facilities

During the Cold War, the United States constructed bunkers to help military command and government officials survive. Some have been decommissioned since then, but the ones that are still considered to be in operation are listed here.

The United States Congress was formerly housed in the Greenbrier Bunker, but since it was discovered in the early 1990s, the new location of the Congressional bunker is unknown.

Airplanes

Ships

The USS Wright (CC-2) USS Wright (CC-2) underway at sea on 25 September 1963 (KN-5885).jpg
The USS Wright (CC-2)

Two National Emergency Command Posts Afloat were:

These vessels were decommissioned in 1970.

Communication

The Defense Communication Agency was tasked in 1963 with maintaining an active backup of all communications for any event that could disrupt communications and the management of command and control communications systems, as the National Communications System. This mission was partially transferred to Defense Information Systems Agency, in charge of supporting command, control, communications, and information systems for the military in the 1990s. It would support the National Command Authority. These functions were later transferred to Joint Forces Command and STRATCOM, but the backup contingency systems continue to operate. It is assumed that the various bunkers and airplanes have been equipped with special communication equipment to survive a catastrophe.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Business Continuity Plan". Ready.gov .
  2. "Professional Practices | DRI International". drii.org.
  3. 1 2 Garrett M. Graff (2017). Raven Rock: The Story of the U.S. Government's Secret Plan to Save Itself. Simon & Schuster.
  4. Eric R. Daleo, State Constitutions and Legislative Continuity in a 9/11 World: Surviving an Enemy Attack, 58 DePaul L. Rev. 919 (2009). Accessed May 23, 2011.
  5. Gellman, Barton; Schmidt, Susan (March 1, 2002). "Shadow Government Is at Work in Secret; After Attacks, Bush Ordered 100 Officials to Bunkers Away From Capital to Ensure Federal Survival". Archived from the original on July 14, 2012.
  6. "The Shadow Government". CBS News. March 2, 2002.
  7. Kosseff, Jeff (July 20, 2007). "DeFazio asks, but he's denied access". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2007-08-10. Retrieved 2011-01-15.
  8. AMERICA NEEDS A PLAN TO PROVIDE FOR CONTINUITY OF GOVERNMENT, Congressional Record: August 2, 2007, Page H9548.
  9. "", Curry County Reporter. Accessed September 7, 2007.
  10. The Oregonian, 2007 July 27, "DeFazio Demands Access to Classified Information," http://blog.oregonlive.com/politics/2007/07/defazio_demands_access_to_clas.html
  11. Federal Continuity Directives and Continuity of Operations documents collection https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/86284.
  12. Continuity Guidance Circular 1 PDF download http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1386609058803-b084a7230663249ab1d6da4b6472e691/CGC-1-Signed-July-2013.pdf.
  13. Continuity Guidance Circular 2 PDF download http://www.fema.gov/media-library-data/1386609058826-b084a7230663249ab1d6da4b6472e691/Continuity-Guidance-Circular2.pdf.
  14. Chip Berlet: The Right-Wing Roots of Sheehan's "Secret Team" Theory. In: Right Woos Left. 1990/1999
  15. [Transcript from the House Select Committee to Investigate Covert Arms Transactions with Iran, New York Times, July 14, 1987]
  16. "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov.
  17. "North American Aerospace Defense Command". Archived from the original on July 26, 2012.
  18. Raven Rock Underground Command Center (Site R)
  19. TACAMO - Take Charge And Move Out
  20. "Associated Press: "U.S. to Complete Emergency Radio Network"". The New York Times. 12 September 1988.