Senate Rules and House Administration Committees Congratulate Architect of the Capitol Nominee

WASHINGTON - Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Chairman Roy Blunt (Mo.) and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (Minn.), along with Committee on House Administration Chairperson Zoe Lofgren (Calif.) and Ranking Member Rodney Davis (Ill.), released the following statements congratulating J. Brett Blanton upon receiving the nomination to become the new Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Mr. Blanton has over 25 years of experience in the public sector, retiring from the Navy as a Commander in the Civil Engineer Corps, and most recently serving as Deputy Vice President of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.  

“The Architect of the Capitol oversees more than 18 million square feet of facilities and 570 acres of grounds on the Capitol campus,” said Blunt. “It’s no small task and I believe Brett Blanton brings the right skillset and leadership experience to the job. I look forward to hearing more from Brett about his plans to strengthen the AOC as his nomination moves forward.”

“The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for overseeing the preservation and the maintenance of the Capitol complex—a critical and challenging job with jurisdiction over thousands of employees. Brett Blanton is highly experienced and I look forward to considering his nomination,” said Klobuchar. 

“I congratulate Mr. Blanton on his nomination to serve as Architect of the Capitol,” said Lofgren. “If confirmed, I look forward to working collaboratively with Mr. Blanton on security upgrades throughout the Capitol grounds, overseeing ongoing renovations of the Cannon House Office Building, and importantly, renewing our focus towards sustainability and responsible environmental stewardship as the AOC continues its work preserving and maintaining the historic structures and grounds on the Capitol campus.”

"I offer my congratulations to Brett Blanton for his nomination to serve as the 12th Architect of the Capitol. This nomination comes at a crucial time during the Cannon House Office Building Renewal Project, which is the largest project undertaken in the history of the agency," said Davis. "We have seen numerous issues arise due to a lack of decisive leadership in this critical agency, and I look forward to seeing that improve under Brett's tenure to ensure the House is efficiently serving Members and their constituents."