If the Vice President of the United States resigns, the office becomes vacant, and the President nominates a replacement who must be confirmed by a majority vote of both the House and the Senate under the 25th Amendment. Until a new Vice President is confirmed, the Vice Presidency stays empty, but the presidential succession line continues normally if needed.

What changes immediately

  • The Vice President stops serving at the moment the resignation takes effect.
  • The President remains in office.
  • The Cabinet, Congress, and the courts keep operating normally.
  • The next Vice President is not automatic; there has to be a nomination and confirmation process first.

How the vacancy is filled

The 25th Amendment says the President appoints a new Vice President, and both chambers of Congress must approve that nominee. That system was created specifically so the country would not be left with a long-term vacancy in the second-highest office.

Why it matters

The Vice President is first in the presidential line of succession, so a vacancy does not change who becomes President if the Presidency itself becomes vacant. But it does matter because it leaves the office unfilled until the confirmation process finishes, which can be politically important and can affect continuity.

Example

When Vice President Spiro Agnew resigned in 1973, President Nixon nominated Gerald Ford, and Congress confirmed him, showing how the vacancy process works in practice.

TL;DR

A VP resignation does not trigger a crisis by itself. The President nominates a replacement, Congress confirms that person, and the Vice Presidency remains vacant until then.