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 ot

See Full Page