President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that Will Scharf will serve as his next White House counsel, replacing David Warrington effective September 1. Warrington is departing the administration to join the private sector.

Scharf currently serves as White House staff secretary and previously worked as a federal prosecutor. He has also represented Trump personally in several legal matters, including cases before the U.S. Supreme Court. In July 2025, Trump appointed Scharf as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the executive branch agency that oversees construction and major renovations of government buildings in the Washington, D.C. region.

In that capacity, Scharf presided over the NCPC as it granted final approval in April for Trump's $400 million ballroom project on the east side of the White House grounds.

"Will is Tough, Strong, and Smart! He also loves our Country, and respects the Law," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!"

The leadership change in the counsel's office arrives at a politically sensitive moment, with midterm elections approaching in November. Trump's Republican Party is working to retain control of Congress, while Democrats have pledged to launch investigations into Trump and his administration should they win back congressional power. The White House counsel's role in such oversight battles has historically been consequential, with prior officeholders navigating disputes over executive privilege, document production, and witness compliance during periods of divided government.

The White House counsel advises the president on legal and policy matters, serves as the primary liaison between the White House and the Department of Justice, and oversees judicial appointments, presidential pardons, and legislative review. The office also plays a central role in managing congressional investigations and defending the president against lawsuits filed in his official capacity.

The ballroom project that Scharf helped advance through the NCPC now faces a significant legal obstacle. A divided federal appeals court ruled on Friday that construction must halt, determining that Congress had not authorized the project. The ruling turns on a core separation-of-powers question: whether the executive branch may proceed with a major federal construction project without explicit legislative approval. Trump has stated he will appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, a forum where Scharf has previously represented him. Construction has already progressed substantially, with the structure beginning to rise above ground level on the east side of the White House.