If both the President and the Vice President of the United States can no longer serve, the next in line to become President is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. This is established by the Presidential Succession Act and the U.S. Constitution. If the Speaker of the House is also unable to serve, the next in line is the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, followed by the Cabinet members in a specified order starting with the Secretary of State
. The current order of succession after the Vice President is:
- Speaker of the House
- President Pro Tempore of the Senate
- Secretary of State
- Secretary of the Treasury
- Secretary of Defense
- Attorney General
- Secretary of the Interior
- Secretary of Agriculture
- Secretary of Commerce
- Secretary of Labor
- Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
- Secretary of Transportation
- Secretary of Energy
- Secretary of Education
- Secretary of Veterans Affairs
- Secretary of Homeland Security
All successors must meet the constitutional requirements to serve as President, including being a natural-born citizen, at least 35 years old, and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years
. In summary, if both the President and Vice President are unable to serve, the Speaker of the House becomes President, followed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and then the Cabinet members in order of their department’s establishment
