WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump has announced that Will Scharf, currently serving as White House staff secretary, will become the next White House counsel beginning September 1.

Scharf will replace David Warrington in one of the administration's most influential legal positions. As White House counsel, he will advise the president on legal issues involving executive actions, legislation, presidential pardons and lawsuits involving the White House.

The appointment comes at a politically important moment, with the 2026 midterm elections approaching and both parties preparing for an increasingly competitive congressional campaign.

Scharf is not new to Trump's legal team. Before joining the administration, he represented Trump in several major legal matters, including a Supreme Court case concerning presidential immunity in a federal election-interference investigation. He also played a role in the confirmation effort for several federal judges during Trump's first term.

The new White House counsel will also inherit several politically sensitive legal issues. The administration is facing ongoing litigation over executive actions, while Trump's controversial $400 million White House ballroom project has been halted by a federal appeals court after judges ruled that congressional approval was required. Trump has indicated that his administration intends to challenge the decision before the Supreme Court.

Scharf's appointment is therefore expected to attract close attention from lawmakers, legal experts and political observers.

The change also comes as Democrats prepare for the possibility of regaining control of the House. Democratic lawmakers have already discussed an extensive investigative agenda should they win the chamber in November.

For the Trump administration, placing a trusted legal adviser in the White House counsel's office could become particularly important during the second half of the president's term.

Scharf's arrival puts a familiar Trump legal ally at the center of the White House as the administration enters a politically crucial period.