[LukeL]

Only until noon on the 20th. At that point Obama has zero executive power and his cabinet no longer exists.

[Ouderkirk]

Actually he retains power until the president elect is actually inaugurated. By the letter.

But this business is outright subversion.

They are disgusting.

[Strac6]

Totally correct. Obama and his coven evaporate, or if the rumors are true, flits off, at 12:00

This is nothing but CNN filling news time.

[SMGFan]

talking about massive casualties, wtf?

[shhrubbery!]

Only until noon on the 20th. At that point Obama has zero executive power and his cabinet no longer exists.

You're right.

CNN are ignorant clowns.

[Forward the Light Brigade]

Both Trump and Pence would have to be taken out—Then Paul Ryan would be President—Not an Obamaphile. Anything like this could well be the start of CW II. Would the Army follow an Obama pick? I think not. If they did—states would fall away and a new president selected—Maybe Ivanka? Eric? I don’t know how it would play out but Lots of Folks would die.

[Impy]

LOL CNN, pretty blatant with their fantasies eh? Bastards.

But what they say is accurate.

Obama will have no authority when his term expires. Cabinet members however remain in office until they resign or are discharged, their terms of service do NOT automatically end, they all serve indefinitely at the pleasure of the President.

If the President-Elect, Vice President-elect, Speaker Ryan and Pres Pro Tem Hatch all happen to be murdered in a terrorist attack it is legally correct that (provided they have not yet resigned) a surviving Cabinet member (first in line would be Kerry) would become ACTING President.

Under current law, which in my opinion unconstitutionally places the House Speaker and Pres Pro Tem in the line, the deceased Ryan’s replacement as House Speaker would immediately be able to supplant the cabinet member and become the new Acting President.

[BlueLancer]

It doesn't matter whether something happens before noon or after noon. If the sitting President and Vice President are unable to fulfill their duties, for whatever reason, the next in line is the Speaker of the House and the next after that is the President Pro Tem of the Senate. It never gets to the Cabinet members until and unless the President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, and President Pro Tem of the Senate are all gone.

After that point, it would make a difference as to whether it was before or after noon, to determine which Cabinet the position starts to pass through.