President Donald Trump announced Monday that Will Scharf will serve as White House counsel and assistant to the president [1, 2].
The appointment marks a significant shift in the administration's legal leadership by replacing David Warrington with a trusted internal aide [1, 3].
Scharf currently serves as the White House staff secretary. His transition to the role of top lawyer for the presidency is scheduled to take effect on Sept. 1 [2].
As White House counsel, Scharf will oversee the legal affairs of the executive branch and provide direct guidance to the president. The move is part of a broader effort to reshape the legal team surrounding the president [1, 3].
Scharf has a history of managing complex projects for the administration. He previously helped secure the approval of a $400 million ballroom project from the National Capital Planning Commission [1].
Warrington will depart the role to make way for Scharf. The announcement was made at the White House in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 10 [1, 2].
The White House has not yet detailed the specific transition plan for the staff secretary position that Scharf is vacating to assume his new duties.
“Will Scharf will become the White House counsel and assistant to the president”
By promoting a staff secretary to the role of White House counsel, the administration is prioritizing internal loyalty and familiarity over external legal hires. Scharf's previous success with the National Capital Planning Commission suggests the president values his ability to navigate federal bureaucracy and secure specific project approvals, which may signal a more aggressive approach to executive legal maneuvers.
