President Trump on Wednesday selected Mark Paoletta, the top lawyer at the White House Office of Management and Budget, to lead the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), the federal panel responsible for approving major construction projects in the D.C. area, including the new White House ballroom and a proposed triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery.
Paoletta, who also serves as acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, will replace Will Scharf as NCPC chair. Scharf is set to become White House counsel on Monday, taking over from David Warrington. The transition was confirmed by the White House in a statement.
The NCPC, a 12-member body, functions as the federal government's central planning agency for the National Capital Region. According to its website, it handles planning, policymaking, and project review, with a focus on the design of federal and certain local projects. The commission's approval is a key step for any major federal construction in and around Washington.
In April, the NCPC gave the green light to Trump's plan to build a ballroom on the site of the demolished East Wing of the White House. Demolition began in October, and the administration has said the ballroom will be completed before the end of Trump's term. The project has faced legal challenges, with the National Trust for Historic Preservation filing a lawsuit. Chief Justice John Roberts last week issued a temporary stay on a lower court ruling that had halted construction, giving the Supreme Court time to consider the administration's emergency appeal.
Beyond the ballroom, the NCPC in July approved preliminary site and building plans for a 250-foot triumphal arch that Trump has proposed for a site near Arlington National Cemetery, just across the Potomac River from the capital. The arch's height has raised questions about compliance with the Height of Buildings Act, which limits new buildings in D.C. to 130 feet, though the arch may be subject to a waiver. Scharf, then NCPC chair, said a final vote on the arch's height exemption was expected in September.
In a statement reported by The New York Times, Paoletta praised Trump's vision, saying the president "has transformed D.C. into a capital worthy of the greatest nation in history." He added, "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."
Paoletta's appointment comes as the administration continues to push its agenda on multiple fronts. His role at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been controversial, as the administration has sought to dismantle the agency. Trump has nominated Brian Johnson to lead the CFPB on a permanent basis.
Paoletta is also a close associate of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and represented his wife, Ginni Thomas, during the House Select Committee's investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His ties to the conservative legal movement and his role in the administration's deregulatory efforts have drawn scrutiny from Democrats and watchdog groups.
The NCPC's decisions on the ballroom and arch are part of a broader push by Trump to reshape the nation's capital, a theme that has resonated with his base. As the 250th anniversary of American independence approaches in 2026, the administration is eager to showcase these projects as symbols of national pride. However, critics argue that the projects prioritize aesthetics over historic preservation and community input.
With Paoletta at the helm, the NCPC is expected to continue approving the administration's plans, though legal and regulatory hurdles remain. The Supreme Court's decision on the ballroom case, and the September vote on the arch, will be closely watched by both supporters and opponents of the projects.
