Architect of Capitol Hit With Sex Bias Suit From Ex-Acting Head

The ex-acting Architect of the Capitol claims that she was passed over for the second highest-ranking role at the government agency because she’s an older woman who’d filed a prior discrimination complaint.

Chere Rexroat filed suit Wednesday in the US District Court for the District of Columbia against the Architect of the US Capitol, the agency overseeing landmarks and preservation management at the US Capitol campus. She’s asking for a court order placing her as the deputy architect.

Rexroat, currently chief engineer at the agency, is a woman in her late 50s who served as the agency’s acting head—the Architect—from February 2023 to February 2024 and acting Deputy Architect, all while performing her regular duties, she says.

The agency earlier this year hired Joseph Campbell, a man in his early 50s, to serve as deputy architect over Rexroat, even though Rexroat said she had more qualifications, according to Rexroat’s complaint. “In contrast to Rexroat, Campbell had never been responsible for executing and planning all of AOC activities,” the complaint says.

The agency also rejected Rexroat for the deputy spot because she was litigating an administrative complaint against the agency alleging sex bias and disparate pay, among other issues, the complaint says.

The suit brings claims of retaliation, intimidation, sex discrimination, and sex plus age discrimination under the Congressional Accountability Act. In addition to seeking retroactive selection as deputy, the complaint asks for backpay, damages, attorneys’ fees, and costs.

The Architect of the Capitol didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rexroat, in a separate action, is defending against claims from former male employees who say they were terminated based on their sex and age during Rexroat’s tenure as acting Architect.

Seldon Bofinger & Associates PC represents Rexroat.

The case is Rexroat v. Architect Of The U.S. Capitol, D.D.C., No. 1:24-cv-03386, complaint filed 12/4/24.