Will Scharf just went from handling paperwork in the Oval Office to becoming one of the most powerful lawyers in Washington. Here’s everything confirmed about his age, background, family, and the new job that’s putting his name at the top of search results right now.
Background
Will Scharf is a name a lot of people are typing into search bars for the first time this week, even though he has been standing next to President Trump for over a year and a half. As White House Staff Secretary, he’s the person who controls what paperwork, executive orders, and briefing documents actually reach the president’s desk. That job doesn’t usually make headlines, but Scharf’s next job will.
People are searching for him now because Trump just picked him to become White House Counsel, the administration’s top lawyer. That’s a much bigger public role, and it comes with real influence over how the White House handles investigations, pardons, and legal fights with Congress. Before any of this, Scharf was a federal prosecutor, a two-time political campaign staffer in Missouri, and one of Trump’s personal defense lawyers in his criminal and Supreme Court cases.
Latest Update
As of August 10, 2026, here is what’s currently known. On Sunday, August 9, 2026, President Trump announced on social media that Scharf will become Assistant to the President and White House Counsel, effective September 1, 2026. He replaces David Warrington, who is leaving the administration for the private sector.
Key Date: Will Scharf becomes White House Counsel on September 1, 2026, according to President Trump’s own announcement.
Trump praised Scharf directly in his announcement, calling him tough, strong, and smart, and pointing to his past work as a federal prosecutor and as one of Trump’s personal attorneys, including at the Supreme Court. Scharf will keep working in the West Wing, just in a different chair, and reports confirm he will also continue chairing the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal body that reviews major construction projects in the Washington, D.C. area, including Trump’s disputed White House ballroom project.
Full Profile
Family and Early Life
William Owen Scharf was born on March 29, 1986, in New York City. His parents are named Fiona and Michael Scharf. He grew up between New York and North Florida in a Modern Orthodox Jewish household, which shaped the religious practices he still follows as an adult.
Career Path
Scharf built his career moving between courtrooms and campaign offices. After law school, he clerked for a federal appeals court judge, then worked at a large law firm. In 2015, he joined Missouri politics as a policy director for a gubernatorial campaign, later doing similar work for Governor Eric Greitens. He became a federal prosecutor from 2020 to 2022, then joined Trump’s personal legal team, working on the presidential immunity case that reached the Supreme Court. In 2024, he ran for Missouri Attorney General and lost the Republican primary. Trump then named him White House Staff Secretary in November 2024, a post he took up when the administration began on January 20, 2025. In July 2025, Trump added the National Capital Planning Commission chairmanship to his plate, and now, starting September 1, 2026, he steps into the White House Counsel role.
Age
Scharf turned 40 years old on March 29, 2026, based on his confirmed birth date.
Religion
Scharf comes from a Modern Orthodox Jewish family. Reporting from Jewish Insider indicates he keeps kosher, wraps tefillin daily, and attends Shabbat services at a local Chabad synagogue.
Spouse/Partner
There is no confirmed record of Scharf being married. In a 2022 social media post, he stated directly that he did not have a wife or children at that time. No verified update on his relationship status has been published since, so this remains unconfirmed rather than something this article will guess about.
Net Worth
Scharf’s exact net worth has not been verified through any official financial disclosure source available for this article. Figures circulating online are not confirmed, so no specific number is stated here.
Parents
His parents are named Fiona and Michael Scharf. Beyond their names, detailed public information about their careers or backgrounds is not confirmed.
Height
Scharf’s height has not been publicly confirmed through any verifiable source, so this article does not state a specific figure.
Education
Scharf attended Phillips Academy, a boarding school in Massachusetts. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in history from Princeton University in 2008, graduating magna cum laude. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he served as president of the Harvard Federalist Society chapter and earned his Juris Doctor in 2011.
Hometown/State of Origin
Scharf was born in New York City but spent part of his childhood in North Florida. As an adult, he has been based in the St. Louis, Missouri area, which is where he ran for statewide office in 2024.
Official Social Media
Scharf’s verified personal account is on X: @willscharf.
Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Graduates Princeton University with a BA in history |
| 2011 | Graduates Harvard Law School with a JD |
| 2015–2016 | Serves as policy director for Missouri gubernatorial campaigns |
| 2020–2022 | Works as a federal prosecutor (Assistant U.S. Attorney) |
| 2024 | Runs for Missouri Attorney General; loses Republican primary |
| Jan. 20, 2025 | Becomes White House Staff Secretary |
| July 2025 | Appointed chair of the National Capital Planning Commission |
| Sept. 1, 2026 | Becomes White House Counsel |
Quick Fact: Scharf worked on Trump’s presidential immunity case, which the Supreme Court ultimately ruled on in Trump’s favor for official acts taken as president.
Reader Questions (FAQ)
Who is Will Scharf?
Will Scharf is an American attorney who serves as White House Staff Secretary and is set to become White House Counsel on September 1, 2026. He previously worked as a federal prosecutor and served on Donald Trump’s personal legal team.
How old is Will Scharf?
Scharf was born on March 29, 1986, making him 40 years old as of this article’s publish date.
Is Will Scharf married?
There is no confirmed record of Scharf being married. He publicly stated in 2022 that he did not have a wife or children, and no verified update has changed that status since.
What is Will Scharf’s new job?
Trump announced on August 9, 2026, that Scharf will become White House Counsel starting September 1, 2026, replacing David Warrington. He will remain close to the president while taking on the legal side of the administration.
Where did Will Scharf go to school?
Scharf attended Phillips Academy for high school, earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University in 2008, and got his law degree from Harvard Law School in 2011.
What is Will Scharf’s religion?
Scharf comes from a Modern Orthodox Jewish family. He has said he keeps kosher, wraps tefillin daily, and attends Shabbat services at a Chabad synagogue near his home.
What is Will Scharf’s net worth?
Scharf’s exact net worth is not confirmed through any verified financial disclosure available for this article, so no specific figure can be reported accurately.
Wrap-Up
Will Scharf’s path from a Missouri campaign staffer to Trump’s incoming White House Counsel didn’t happen overnight. He spent years building legal credibility as a federal prosecutor, then pivoted into political work that eventually put him next to Trump during some of the highest-stakes court cases of the last presidency. Losing his 2024 attorney general race in Missouri could have ended his political career, but instead it pushed him straight into the White House.
What makes his promotion to White House Counsel notable isn’t just the title change. It places him at the center of any legal fights between the administration and Congress right as the 2026 midterm elections approach, a period when a divided Congress could mean more investigations and subpoenas aimed at the White House. That timing is part of why his name is trending now, not just the new job itself.
As with any figure who moves deeper into the political spotlight, expect more scrutiny of his record, his statements, and his background in the weeks ahead. This article will reflect only what’s been confirmed through credible reporting, and it will be updated if his role, family situation, or public record changes in a verifiable way.
Smith Andrew is the Founder and Editor of BiographyCabal. He researches, writes, and edits accurate, engaging, and well-researched biographies of celebrities, entrepreneurs, athletes, influencers, politicians, and other notable public figures. Committed to factual reporting and quality storytelling, Smith ensures every article is reader-focused, informative, and based on reliable sources, helping readers discover the lives, careers, and achievements of influential people around the world.