Continuity of Operations (COOP) and 
Continuity of Government (COG)

5 Session Audio CD Class

COOP

 

On May 9, 2007, the White House released Homeland Security Presidential 20, HSPD-20, which mandated that government agencies appoint a senior-level official at the assistant secretary level as their continuity of operations (COOP) coordinators who would prepare plans, budgets and exercises to test agencies' COOP plans each year. The mandate, which requires implementation in the next 90 days, is designed to ensure that government agencies are capable of initiating COOP plans with little or no notice to remain open and ready to deal with terrorist, manmade or natural threats and disasters.

 

Federal Executive Branch said, “Government-wide, COOP planning is critical because much of the recovery from an incident, which might include the maintenance of civil authority, and infrastructure repair, among other recovery activities, presumes the existence of an ongoing, functional government to fund, support, and oversee actions taken. In the executive branch, COOP planning can be viewed as a continuation of basic

emergency preparedness planning, and a bridge between that planning and efforts to

maintain continuity of government in the event of a significant disruption to

government activity or institutions. Because the number and types of potential

interruptions are unknown, effective COOP planning must provide, in advance of an

incident, a variety of means to assure contingent operations.”

 

COOP planning as an effort to assure that the capability exists to continue essential agency functions across a wide range of potential emergencies.

 

COG

 

“In the fall of 2002, the Continuity of Government Commission was launched to study and make recommendations for the continuity of our government institutions after a catastrophic attack. September 11th raised the possibility that foreign enemies might seriously disrupt the filling of vacancies in Congress, presidential succession, and achieving a quorum for the Court so much so that our basic institutions might not function in a normal constitutional manner” .Succession plans and delegations of authority are a key element of COG programs. Continuity of Government (COG) is the principle of establishing defined procedures that allow a government to continue its essential operations in case of a nuclear war or other catastrophic event. Developed during the Cold War, COG plans were implemented by many countries to avoid leaving a vacuum at any governmental level, which could lead to anarchy or to an unlawful assumption of authority.

 

6 DRII Continuing Education Credits