The Administration · Inside the White House
White House Counsel
One of Trump's lawyers in the presidential immunity case, Scharf became the White House's top lawyer in September 2026 and has warned incoming Democratic committee chairs that their planned investigations could be crimes.
Will Scharf was born in New York City in 1986 and was educated at Princeton and Harvard Law School. 4 He clerked for a federal appeals judge, then moved into Missouri politics as policy director for Gov. Eric Greitens. 4 During Trump's first term he worked on the confirmations of federal judges, including Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, and he served as a federal prosecutor in St. Louis from 2020 to 2022. 1 4
He joined Trump's personal legal team in October 2023 and worked on the election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, which led to the Supreme Court's 2024 ruling that presidents have broad immunity for official acts. 1 2 In 2024 he ran for Missouri attorney general and lost the Republican primary to the incumbent, Andrew Bailey. 4
In January 2025 he became White House staff secretary, the aide who manages the paper that reaches the president and who was often at Trump's side as he signed executive orders. 1 In July 2025 Trump also made him chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, which in April 2026 gave final approval to the roughly $400 million White House ballroom. 1
Trump announced in August 2026 that Scharf would replace David Warrington as White House counsel on September 1. 1 After Democrats won both houses of Congress in November, Scharf sent a letter dated November 9 to Rep. Robert Garcia, the likely next chair of the House Oversight Committee, warning that some planned investigations of the administration could amount to criminal conduct. 3
The acts and events that have defined the post so far, oldest first.
What critics, courts or investigators have said, and the answer given. An allegation is not a finding.
Democrats and the Associated Press described his letter to Rep. Garcia as a warning that routine congressional oversight could be prosecuted. Garcia said Congress does not need the White House's permission to investigate and that the president appears to have something to hide. 3
Their side: The letter argues that congressional investigations must serve a legitimate legislative purpose. Attorney General Todd Blanche later said the Justice Department would keep working with Congress on subpoenas and letters. 3
A divided federal appeals court ordered construction of the ballroom, which his commission approved, to stop because Congress had not authorized it. 1 2
Their side: Scharf had said the commission's authority covers construction but not the earlier demolition of the East Wing; Trump said he would appeal to the Supreme Court. 2
Quotes from our stories, each matched word for word against its source before it ran.
“may cross the line into blatant criminality”
House Republican leader Jim Jordan predicts a third impeachment and probes of Trump's Cabinet and the 2028 GOP nominee. He says Republicans want to get as much done as they can while they still hold the majority.
White House counsel Will Scharf sent incoming House Oversight chair Robert Garcia a letter saying some planned Democratic investigations could be criminal. It suggests the administration may investigate the investigators once Democrats take control in January.
File checked Nov. 13, 2026. Something wrong or out of date? Tell the desk.
