Encyclopedia · Biography
Don McGahn
American lawyer and former White House counsel
Personal details
- Full name
- Donald Francis McGahn II
- Born
- June 16, 1968 · Atlantic City, New Jersey (reported)
- Parents
- Donald Francis McGahn; Noreen Rogan McGahn (biographical reports)
- Education
- University of Notre Dame, B.A. (1991); Widener University, J.D. (1994); Georgetown University Law Center, LL.M. (2002)
- Spouse
- Shannon McGahn
- Children
- Two sons
- Political affiliation
- Republican
- Profession
- Election-law attorney, federal commissioner, White House counsel
- Military
- Attended U.S. Naval Academy; military commission or active service not established
- Federal positions
- FEC commissioner (2008–2013); White House counsel (2017–2018)
Donald Francis “Don” McGahn II (born 1968) is an American lawyer who served as counsel to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign and as White House counsel from January 2017 to October 2018. He previously served as a commissioner and chairman of the Federal Election Commission.
Family, education and legal training
McGahn was raised in the Atlantic City region of New Jersey. Published biographical accounts identify his parents as Donald F. McGahn and Noreen Rogan. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy, graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1991 and earned law degrees from Widener University and Georgetown University. He and his wife Shannon have two sons.
Campaign law and Federal Election Commission
McGahn clerked for Pennsylvania judge Charles R. Alexander, practiced at Patton Boggs, and was general counsel to the National Republican Congressional Committee beginning in 1999. He also maintained McGahn & Associates and conducted legal work for political organizations. President George W. Bush nominated him to the FEC in 2008; he served as FEC chairman in 2008 and commissioner until September 2013. He later practiced at Jones Day.
Trump campaign and White House
McGahn served as counsel to Trump’s 2016 campaign and became White House counsel on January 20, 2017. He participated in the administration’s judicial selection process. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch reported that McGahn interviewed him on January 5 and 14, 2017, and called him on January 27 to say the president intended to nominate him. McGahn left the White House in October 2018.
Professional and civic affiliations
His FEC biography documents pro bono work for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. Subsequent professional work was in law practice; the reviewed sources do not establish a comprehensive inventory of civic board positions.
References
Research compiled through November 12, 2026. Sources and historical roles are dated where known.