Trump names Mark Paoletta to lead agency overseeing White House ballroom, DC arch
Trump taps OMB general counsel Mark Paoletta as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, replacing Will Scharf, who becomes White House counsel.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald Trump has picked Mark Paoletta, the general counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to lead the federal agency that oversees major development projects across the nation’s capital.
Paoletta will serve as chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the body charged with supervising DC-area development. He already holds four other jobs in the administration, and he replaces Will Scharf, the outgoing chairman, who is transitioning into a new role as White House counsel, according to nypost.
Here is the full post on truthsocial: “Trump picks new leader of agency overseeing construction of White House ballroom, DC arch: https://nypost.com/2026/08/26/us-news/trump-picks-new-leader-of-agency-overseeing-construction-of-white-house-ballroom-dc-arch/” on August 28, 2026 at 2:05 PM ET.
This is Trump’s 17th message released today, out of 18 total, and the last post was two hours ago, and it is not part of a thread. On average, Trump produces 18 posts per day since his inauguration on January 20, 2025. The move fits a broader pattern in Trump’s recent messaging, with 55 of his 615 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.
Trump shared the appointment by mentioning the source (see nypost). Paoletta was appointed Wednesday to chair the commission and already serves as general counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget, according to nypost. He also serves as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and as chief legal officer of USAID. He is performing the duties of administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, according to nypost.
President Donald J. Trump announced the appointment of Mark Paoletta to lead the National Capital Planning Commission at WASHINGTON D.C.
© copyright Flickr with permission
The commission’s oversight reaches a wide range of proposed projects in the Washington area. It approved Trump’s White House ballroom plans in April and is reviewing his plans for a 250-foot arch along the Potomac River near the Lincoln Memorial, according to nypost. Other matters within the board’s purview include the Federal Reserve building renovation, a possible expansion of the National Zoo and the replacement of the former RFK stadium with an arena for DC’s professional football team, according to nypost.
Paoletta is known for his loyalty to Trump. He is one of very few administration officials, alongside OMB Director Russ Vought, who returned to the same post he held in Trump’s first term, according to nypost. He has a long history in conservative legal circles and helped guide the 1991 Supreme Court nomination of Justice Clarence Thomas as an assistant counsel to President George H.W. Bush, according to nypost.
“I am honored to be appointed by President Trump to serve as Chairman of the NCPC,” Paoletta said. “President Trump has transformed DC into a Capital worthy of the greatest nation in history. I look forward to working with my new colleagues to further the president’s historic restoration and beautification of the National Capital Region, especially in the 250th year of our country’s independence.”
Scharf, the outgoing chairman, became nationally known as Trump’s staff secretary. He gave concise on-camera descriptions of policy changes before Trump would sign the orders in the Oval Office, according to nypost. Paoletta appears less frequently on camera, according to nypost.
NewsFindr Chart Maker
Photo by Zenger real-time database of all Truth Social posts.
Zenger analysis
Photo by Zenger analysis