The staff secretary who as the Trump-appointed head of the National Capital Planning Commission helped secure approval for the $400 million ballroom project. “Will Scharf will do a great job as White House Counsel!” The White House counsel’s job is to advise on legal and policy questions related to the presidency. They included U.S. Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh — who himself served as White House staff secretary for President George W. Bush — and Amy Coney Barrett. As White House staff secretary, Scharf was responsible for managing the papers that cross the president’s desk.