Republican state Sen. Mike Stuart has been nominated by President Donald Trump to serve as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (Will Price | West Virginia Legislative Photography)
President Donald Trump has nominated Republican state Sen. Mike Stuart to serve as general counsel for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Stuart will face confirmation hearings with the U.S. Senate, who on Wednesday advanced Trump’s nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to lead the federal health agency.
“It’s a great honor to be nominated by President Trump,” said Stuart, R-Kanawha, on Wednesday. “I look forward to working with the Senate, hopefully on confirmation but I look forward to continuing to serve here in the Judiciary Committee as judiciary chair until such time as the Senate takes action on my nomination.”
U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., posted on X congratulating Stuart on the nomination on X.
“I’m glad [President Trump] 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,” she wrote.
A final vote on Kennedy’s nomination, considered one of the most fragile of the president’s nominations, is expected later this week. Kennedy has faced scrutiny from Democrats and Republicans in recent weeks during fiery hearings, where he was grilled over his controversial views on vaccines and abortion.
The federal HHS agency oversees the Food and Drug Administration, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, family services and more.
“It’s general counsel of a pretty big department, about 90,000 employees … so massive responsibility,” Stuart said.
During Trump’s first presidential term, he nominated Stuart to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. Stuart was confirmed by the U.S. Senate and held the position from from 2018 to 2021.
Stuart has served in the state Senate since 2022, representing the 7th District. He unsuccessfully ran for the Republican nomination for Attorney General in the 2024 primaries but lost to J.B. McCuskey, who now holds the position.
If confirmed, Stuart said he wasn’t sure what the timeline would be for taking on the role in Washington, D.C.
West Virginia’s 60-day legislative session began Wednesday in Charleston.
“We’re going to drive a hard agenda here in Judiciary in West Virginia, and while at the same time, working toward hopefully confirmation in the United States Senate,” Stuart said.
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