Trump's new White House counsel could soon face a subpoena fight

White House staff secretary Will Scharf will take over as White House counsel on Sept. 1, President Trump announced Sunday.

Why it matters: Scharf begins his job just two months before the midterms, when a possible Democratic House could put him at the center of fights over subpoenas, testimony and executive privilege.

The big picture: Scharf is the latest of Trump's former personal lawyers to land a powerful legal job in the administration.

• Todd Blanche, another former Trump lawyer, was confirmed as attorney general Saturday.
• D. John Sauer, who argued Trump's Supreme Court immunity case, has served as solicitor general since 2025.
• Scharf was on Trump's legal team in the same case.

State of play: Scharf replaces White House counsel David Warrington, who is leaving for the private sector, according to Trump's announcement.

• As staff secretary, Scharf has overseen the flow of documents to and from the president.
• He also chairs the National Capital Planning Commission, which has tried to clear the way for Trump's White House ballroom construction. An appellate court halted the project Friday.

How it works: The White House counsel advises the president and senior staff on legal issues and helps manage responses to congressional investigations.

• That makes the office especially important when Congress and the White House clash, as the two branches are expected to do if Democrats take over either the House or Senate in November.
• Congressional Democrats are already preparing for an onslaught of subpoenas if they win in November.