Widely considered a settled issue during the late 20th century , the terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001 demonstrated the potential for a decapitation strike that would kill or incapacitate multiple individuals in the presidential line of succession in addition to many members of Congress and the federal judiciary . In the years immediately following the attacks , there were numerous wide-ranging discussions in Congress , among academics and within the public policy community about continuity of government concerns including the existing constitutional and statutory provisions governing presidential succession . These discussions remain ongoing . One effort put forward by the Continuity of Government Commission , a nonpartisan think tank , produced three reports ( 2003 , 2009 and 2011 ) , the second of which focused on the implicit ambiguities and limitations in the current succession act , and contained recommendations for amending the laws for succession to the presidency
terrorist attacks of September 11 , 2001
September 11 attacks
United States presidential line of succession