West Virginia Attorney Michael Stuart, Moore Capito, and Matt Harvey Confirmed for key Federal Roles
WASHINGTON - In a significant win for West Virginia, the U.S. Senate on Thursday confirmed Michael Stuart as the next general counsel for the United States Department of Health and Human Services,alongside Moore Capito and Matt Harvey for other federal positions. The confirmations mark a rare instance of three individuals from the state being appointed to high-level federal roles together.
Stuart,a former U.S.Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia and past chairman of the West Virginia Republican Party, will transition from his current role as a West virginia state senator. “I am and remain a West Virginia state Senator despite being confirmed…for the United States Department of Health and Human Services,” Stuart stated, noting the process of his appointment is still ongoing. West Virginia Governor Jim Justice will now need to appoint a new state senator to fill the remainder of Stuart’s term.
Prior to his nomination, Stuart practiced law at major firms in West Virginia and operated his own legal practice. He was a Republican candidate for state attorney general in 2024, losing to current Attorney General J.B. McCuskey. Senator Shelley Moore Capito, chairwoman of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, expressed confidence in Stuart’s abilities, stating he “will serve with distinction, ensuring the agency operates with accountability, clarity, and respect for the law.”
Governor Justice lauded the confirmations as “a proud moment for the State of West Virginia,” adding that Stuart,Capito,and Harvey “are rock-solid leaders who represent the very best of our state.”
