Congress is currently on the lookout for a new Architect of the Capitol to oversee a massive complex in Washington, D.C. that includes the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, and several other facilities. The job requires someone with engineering, architectural, academic, and diplomatic skills, as well as political dexterity. Following the events of January 6, 2021, when the previous architect, a Trump appointee, stayed home during the attack on the Capitol, Congress is looking for someone who can handle the job’s complexity and responsibility. Additionally, recent reports indicate waste, absenteeism, contracting irregularities, workplace misconduct, and sexual harassment within the 2,400 employee team and dissatisfaction with the work done so far on the restoration of the House Cannon office building. In the wake of J. Brett Blanton’s firing, members of Congress are looking to take control of the chief from the White House and place it under their purview. The American Institute of Architects, however, is calling for the next architect to be a licensed architect, bound by the industry’s ethical standards. Regardless, the congressional commission is searching across the nation for potential candidates, promoting the job with a $212,000 annual salary and an emphasis on service. The position is unique, requiring the skills of an architect, particularly concerning space planning, while also being people-facing, managing relations with lawmakers and the government.
