President Joe Biden has fired the Architect of the Capitol, J. Brett Blanton, after the Trump appointee was criticized for his handling of the Capitol complex.
Blanton had held the post since October 2019 and was responsible for the management of the Capitol complex. This included overseeing the Capitol Police, the Library of Congress, the Capitol Visitor Center, and the Capitol grounds.
The move to fire Blanton came after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy called for his resignation due to alleged abuses. McCarthy accused Blanton of overspending and mismanagement of the Capitol building.
In addition, Yahoo News reported that Biden fired Blanton due to an investigation into allegations of improper contracting practices and misuse of taxpayer funds.
The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance and preservation of the Capitol complex, and the firing of Blanton is the latest move by the Biden administration to restore integrity to the Capitol.
Biden also dismissed the Capitol’s top manager, Laura Condeluci, who was embroiled in a scandal over her handling of the Covid-19 pandemic and the January 6th insurrection.
The White House said in a statement that Biden was committed to restoring trust and confidence in the Capitol, and that the decision to fire Blanton and Condeluci was part of that effort.
The Architect of the Capitol is a critical role in the management of the Capitol complex, and the firing of Blanton and Condeluci is a clear sign that the Biden administration is taking steps to ensure that the Capitol is managed responsibly.