Amid final acts of 117th Congress, series of moves to restrict the embattled Architect of the Capitol

Washington — CBS News has learned of a series of efforts on Capitol Hill in the final days of the 117th Congress to make it easier to remove the embattled Architect of the Capitol or to reduce his ability to misuse a perk of his office.    

The new efforts even include a small but striking piece of language in the 4,155-page spending bill signed into law by President Biden to fund the government next year. 

The moves follow a blistering internal review by the agency's inspector general last year of J. Brett Blanton, who currently holds the position overseeing the facilities, historical artifacts and U.S. Capitol grounds. The inspector general said its investigation found Blanton abused his authority and squandered taxpayer money, including by allowing his family to use his government-owned SUVs, and driving the vehicles on family vacations to South Carolina, West Virginia and Florida, and a trip to a craft brewery.