Why did demolition of the East Wing of White House proceed without formal review? Ask Will Scharf, Assistant to the President and White House Staff Secretary.

Headline #1 and photo:  Jewish New Syndicate

Headline #2:  National Capital Planning Commission

Headline #3: The White House

Headline #4:  Daily Beast

Farrah Tomazin reports for Daily Beast:

President Donald Trump has appointed one of his top aides to head the planning commission overseeing his $250 million White House ballroom, fueling fears the controversial project could be fast-tracked despite growing public backlash. 

William Scharf, a former personal lawyer to Trump who now serves as the White House staff secretary, was quietly appointed in July as chair of the National Capital Planning Commission, the agency responsible for overseeing construction and major renovations to government buildings across Washington. 

The appointment of Scharf, who is known around D.C. as “the folder guy” for his role in handing Executive Order folders to Trump during signing ceremonies, was made days before Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced plans for the ballroom on July 31. 

Two other Trump aides, Michael James Blair, who is a White House deputy chief of staff, and Stuart Levenbach, who works in the Office of Management and Budget headed by “Grim Reaper” Russell Vought, were also appointed to the Commission. They now represent the states of Virginia and Maryland, respectively. [emphasis added]

Trump’s decision to appoint his own loyalists to the agency is likely to exacerbate concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding the ballroom renovation, which critics have described as a “presidential vanity project.”

But wait there's more!!

Brian Gottlieb reports for the Engineering News-Record:

Commission Chairman Will Scharf, who also serves as White House staff secretary, said during a public meeting that “what we deal with is essentially construction, vertical build,” explaining why demolition and site-preparation work began before commission review. The interpretation leaves design oversight unresolved, even as groundwork proceeds. [emphasis added]

Which begs the question, Will,

Why does the following items appear on the 12/4/2025 NCPC agenda?  Site selection takes place before construction and "vertical build".  

Related posts:

November 2025

White House Ballroom oversight gaps emerge: Let us count the ways  (Part 1:  National Capital Planning Commission).  (11/18)

That's assuming it even gets built by the end of 2028.  (11/16)

What did Donald Trump know about the demolition of the East Wing of White House and when did he know it?  (11/2)

What did Clark Construction know about the demolition of the East Wing of White House and when did they know it?.  (11/2)

2025

October 24-31

Meet some of the 15% of folks* who strongly support who support Trump's demolition of the East Wing of the White House.  (10/31)

Today, Trump's wrecking ball is not limited to foreign policy.  (10/29)

Shown to scale:  90,000-square-foot monstrosity  dwarfs rest of White House complex.  (10/25)

Remember this:  Trump's most blatant and callous White House ballroom lie.  (10/24)

Trump's "simple trick" to keep his wife at home is to demolish her workplace. (10/24)

October 23

Payment due:  Trump crime family will decide if ACECO's demolition rises to the level of 'great work'.  (10/23)

Dear Michael Citren of ACECO fame: Did you receive a down payment for your demolition work? Trump has long history of stiffing his contractors. Best, Retiring Guy.  (10/23)

Get to know Michael Citren, Chairman, ACECO LLC, and his handiwork.  (10/23)

Compensation Chronicles:  Trumps 90,000-square ballroom monstrosity dwarfs the rest of the White House.  (10/23)

Raise your hands if you think these two headlines are related.  (10/23)

Silver Springs Maryland-based ACECO, “premier demolition contractor in the D.C. metro area.” is tearing down the East Wing of the White House.  (10/23)

October 21-22
Donald Trump provides us with the perfect metaphor for his demolition of democracy in the United States. And the Contrarians agree.  (10/22)

Donald Trump provides us with the perfect metaphor for his demolition of democracy in the United States. (10/21)