Trump announced on Sunday that Will Scharf, the staff secretary who helped approve the $400 million White House ballroom project, will become White House counsel and assistant to the president effective September 1, replacing David Warrington, who is leaving to join the private sector.

The White House counsel advises the president on legal matters, interacts with the Justice Department, handles pardons, judicial appointments, and oversees investigations and lawsuits involving the administration. The role is currently in transition ahead of the November midterm elections, when the Republican Party will seek to retain control of Congress and Democrats have promised investigations if they succeed.

Scharf previously served as a federal prosecutor and represented Trump in several cases, including before the Supreme Court. He also chaired the National Capital Planning Commission, which approved the ballroom construction in April. A federal appeals court recently ruled that construction on the ballroom must pause because Congress has not authorized funding, and Trump has indicated he will appeal the decision to the Supreme Court. The project is under way, with work already visible on the east side of the White House.

The appointment comes as the administration prepares for upcoming elections and potential legal challenges. The outcome of the ballroom dispute and the counsel’s role in forthcoming investigations remain unresolved.