State Sen. Stuart Nominated To Serve In HHS

Ahead of the upcoming U.S. Senate vote to confirm his health cabinet secretary choice, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Pres. Donald Trump’s administration announced West Virginia state Sen. Mike Stuart’s nomination to serve as general counsel to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on Tuesday, Feb. 12.

During Trump’s first administration, Stuart, R-Kanawha, served as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia from 2018 to 2021, when former Pres. Joe Biden asked him to step down and he resigned.

Stuart first worked under Trump in 2016 when he chaired his West Virginia election campaign. Before, Stuart chaired the West Virginia Republican Party from 2010 to 2012.

Stuart was chosen by West Virginia’s new state Senate President, Randy Smith, R-Preston, in December to serve as Judiciary Committee chair during the 2025 legislative session.

Stuart’s nomination will undergo the U.S. Senate confirmation process if Kennedy is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the Secretary of HHS.

Stuart’s was one of three HHS nominations The White House sent the Senate on Tuesday night.

Trump also nominated Gustav Chiarello and Gary Andres to be assistant secretaries of HHS. 

Senators are expected to vote on Kennedy’s nomination this week.

In other published statements, Stuart said his nomination was an honor.

Stuart wrote in an X post-Wednesday afternoon, “The son and grandson of WV coal miners, I am humbled and profoundly grateful to be nominated by President Donald Trump and excited to support Robert Kennedy Jr. and the dedicated people HHS to do important work meeting the historic challenge to Make America Great & Healthy Again!”

U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito congratulated Stuart on his nomination in a post to X on Tuesday afternoon.

“Congratulations to Mike Stuart on his nomination to be general counsel at HHS! I’m glad POTUS has nominated a West Virginian to advance his agenda at HHS. As the agency’s lead appropriator, I look forward to the efforts we can do together.”

Stuart replied to Capito’s X post, “Thank you so much! It is an honor and I am eager, if confirmed, to work with you and your team!”