The recent movement of a nuclear-resistant U.S. aircraft and rising conflict with Iran have revived fears that Washington may soon activate a secretive plan to preserve American leadership during catastrophic events.

The Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) is a decades-old U.S. government protocol designed to protect top officials -- such as President Donald Trump -- and essential functions in extreme emergencies like nuclear war, natural disasters, pandemics, or cyberattacks, as the Daily Mail reports.

Originally developed during the Cold War, COOP’s purpose is to ensure that national defense, lawmaking, and public safety operations can continue even if major cities are destroyed or government departments are disrupted.

Doomsday flight triggers concerns

Concerns about the potential implementation of COOP intensified after the June 17 movement of the Boeing E-4B "Nightwatch," known as the Doomsday plane, from Louisiana to Maryland. The aircraft is capable of functioning as an airborne command center in the event of a nuclear attack.

Just four days later, the U.S. military launched coordinated strikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran. These attacks, carried out amid warnings from China and Russia, raised global apprehension about military escalation and possible preparations for broader conflict.

The timing of the plane’s flight and the missile strikes has led many observers to question whether U.S. leadership is quietly preparing for potential scenarios involving nuclear confrontation or World War III.

Leadership relocation sites revealed

Key details from publicly available sources show that if activated, COOP would relocate U.S. leadership to several fortified installations designed to withstand nuclear attacks. These include Mount Weather in Virginia, Raven Rock in Pennsylvania, and the Cheyenne Mountain Complex in Colorado.

Mount Weather is operated by FEMA for civilian leadership continuity. Raven Rock serves as a military command post, and Cheyenne Mountain is a secure backup facility for NORAD and missile defense operations, all equipped for prolonged isolation and communication retention.

Designed to keep the government intact, COOP ensures protected locations, backup communication systems, and a functioning chain of command even if the president, vice president, or other key leaders are lost in an attack.

Cold War origins with modern adaptations

The initial concept for COOP began under President Dwight D. Eisenhower in the 1950s. Amid nuclear threats from the Soviet Union, Eisenhower instituted executive orders to build hardened infrastructure and secure government communication lines.

Later administrations refined the strategy, including the issuing of Presidential Decision Directive 67 in the 1990s. Today's continuity planning is formally organized under the National Continuity Policy Directive, also known as Federal Continuity Directive 1 (FCD-1).

This framework now takes into account modern threats such as cyberattacks and electromagnetic pulses that could disrupt electronic systems, while preserving vital government operations and leadership succession protocols.

Post-9/11 precedent confirms COOP use

A 2002 Congressional Research Service report confirmed that COOP procedures were implemented after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. During that time, 75 to 150 key federal officials were transported to undisclosed sites to maintain government control.

Continuity programs extend beyond defense and include standard agencies like the Internal Revenue Service, which has detailed emergency plans to continue vital services. FEMA also confirms that essential agency functions must endure across diverse emergency scenarios.

Although most COOP operational specifics remain classified, its known objective is not civilian protection, but the uninterrupted survival and authority of the federal government in the worst-case scenarios imaginable.