Presidential Emergency Operations Center

The Presidential Emergency Operations Center (PEOC, PEE-ock) is a bunker-like structure underneath the East Wing of the White House. It serves as a secure shelter and communications center for the President of the United States and others in case of an emergency.

Presidential Emergency Operations Center
After addressing the U.S. people on the September 11 attacks, President George W. Bush meets with the National Security Council in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center
BuildingThe White House's East Wing
LocationWashington, D.C.
CountryUnited States
Coordinates38.897600°N 77.03739°W / 38.897600; -77.03739

History
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney and wife Lynne Cheney in the Presidential Emergency Operations Center following the September 11 attacks.

The first White House bunker was constructed during World War II to protect President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the event of an aerial attack on Washington. The modern PEOC space has modern communications equipment including televisions and phones to coordinate with outside government entities. During a breach of White House security, to include the Washington, D.C. Air Defense Identification Zone (P-56 airspace) violations, the President and other protectees will be relocated to the executive briefing room, next to the PEOC. Day to day, the PEOC is manned around the clock by joint-service military officers and non-commissioned officers.

September 11, 2001

During the September 11 attacks, Vice President Dick Cheney, Lynne Cheney, Condoleezza Rice, Norman Mineta, Mary Matalin, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Joshua Bolten, Karen Hughes, Stephen Hadley, David Addington, Secret Service agents and other staff, including a U.S. Army major who was a White House Fellow, were evacuated from their offices in the White House to the PEOC. President Bush was in Florida at the time of the attacks.[1]

May 29, 2020

President Donald Trump retreated to the PEOC during the night of May 29, 2020, at the beginning of the George Floyd protests.[2][3] After his trip to the bunker was reported in the news, Trump demanded that officials find and prosecute those responsible for the information getting to the press.[4]

References
  1. Clarke, Richard A. (2004). Against All Enemies. New York: Free Press. p. 18. ISBN 0-7432-6024-4.
  2. Peter Baker; Maggie Haberman (May 31, 2020). "As Protests and Violence Spill Over, Trump Shrinks Back". New York Times. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
  3. Walker, Tim (June 1, 2020). "First Thing: with America ablaze, Trump retreated to the bunker". The Guardian. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
  4. Haberman, Maggie; Karni, Annie (June 17, 2020). "Does Trump Want to Fight for a Second Term? His Self-Sabotage Worries Aides". New York Times. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
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