Trump Names Mark Paoletta to Lead Agency Overseeing White House Ballroom, Potomac Arch
Trump appoints OMB general counsel to chair the National Capital Planning Commission, replacing Will Scharf as the agency oversees major Washington construction projects.
WASHINGTON D.C. — Donald J. Trump appointed Mark Paoletta, the general counsel of the White House Office of Management and Budget, to chair the federal agency overseeing construction of a new White House ballroom and a proposed triumphal arch along the Potomac River.
Paoletta already holds four other jobs in the administration. He replaces Will Scharf, who is transitioning into his 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 1st message released today, and the last post was 7 days 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 19 of his 264 posts over the last 30 days classified as Domestic Policy posts.
The National Capital Planning Commission serves as the federal government’s planning agency for projects in and around Washington. The 12-member panel approved ballroom construction where the East Wing once stood in April, according to upi. Supreme Court Justice John Roberts temporarily blocked a lower-court ruling that had halted the project in a lawsuit filed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, according to upi.
“I am honored to be appointed by President Trump to serve as Chairman of the NCPC,” Paoletta said, according to nypost. “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.”
Chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission Mark Paoletta posed at Washington D.C. on 08/28/2026.
© copyright Flickr with permission
Paoletta is one of very few administration officials, alongside OMB Director Russ Vought, who returned last year to the same post he held in Trump’s first term, according to nypost. He also serves as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which the Trump administration has attempted to shrink or shutter. He holds the title of chief legal officer of USAID, which merged into the State Department last year. He is performing the duties of administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, the federal office that reviews proposed regulations, according to nypost.
Paoletta has a long history in conservative legal circles and is a friend of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. He helped guide Thomas’s 1991 nomination as an assistant counsel to President George H.W. Bush, according to nypost. He represented Ginny Thomas, the wife of Justice Thomas, during the House Select Committee’s investigation of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to upi.
Paoletta’s work at the commission will touch a wide range of proposed projects. Those include shepherding the under-review 250-foot arch near the Lincoln Memorial, overseeing security upgrades to Lafayette Park and handling routine matters like alleyway access, according to nypost. Other projects within the board’s oversight include the ongoing Federal Reserve building renovation, a possible expansion of the National Zoo and the replacement of the former RFK stadium with an arena for Washington’s professional football team, according to nypost.
Scharf, the outgoing chairman, became nationally well-known as Trump’s staff secretary. He gave concise on-camera descriptions of the impact of various policy changes before Trump signed orders in the Oval Office, according to nypost. Paoletta appears less frequently on camera but joined Trump in February to announce administration initiatives.
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