← Chronicle · Succession · September 1, 2026

Will Scharf Becomes White House Counsel

Will Scharf became White House Counsel on September 1, 2026, succeeding David Warrington. Warrington had held the office from January 20, 2025; Scharf moved to it from the Staff Secretary’s office, where he had served since the start of the term.

The counsel’s office had already seen one pre-inauguration change — the President’s initial designee was named and then replaced before January 20, 2025 — making Scharf the third person associated with the role in this administration and the second to hold it in office. The counsel’s mission — the legal architecture of the presidency, from executive actions to litigation posture — passed to Scharf on this date.

Sources: Banked research in this site’s files (research cluster C): White House Counsel chain — initial designee replaced pre-inauguration; David Warrington, January 20, 2025–September 1, 2026; Will Scharf from September 1, 2026 (previously Staff Secretary). The White House.