(a) During a national emergency, as defined in § 375.2, the respective functions and responsibilities of the Board shall be to the extent possible as set forth in the U.S. Government Manual, which is published annually by the Office of the Federal Register.

(b) The following delegation of authority is made to provide continuity in the event of a national emergency when a quorum of the full Board is unavailable to exercise its powers under section 7(b)(3) of the Railroad Retirement Act.

(1) The Chair of the Board shall act with full administrative authority for the Board.

(2) In the absence or incapacity of the Chair, the authority of the Chair to act shall pass to the available successor highest on the following list:

(3) Except as may be determined otherwise by the Chair of the Board or his or her successor and as provided in §§ 375.6 and 375.7, the duties of each bureau or office head shall be discharged in his or her absence or incapacity during a national emergency by the available staff member next in line of succession. Each bureau or office head shall designate and prearrange the line of succession within his or her office. If no such designation has been made, such duties shall be assumed by the available subordinate who is highest in grade or, if there is more than one, in length of Board service.

(4) Emergency responsibility and authority under this section, once assumed, shall be relinquished on direction of the duly constituted higher authority acting under the provisions of paragraphs (b)(1) and (2) of this section.