Tennessee Rep. Mark Green (R) has quietly resigned from Congress, shrinking the GOP's narrow majority.
Green's last day at work was Sunday, July 20. The Republican had previously announced he would retire before the end of his term, but his departure came with little fanfare.
The Republican said his work is finished after he helped pass the immigration portion of Trump's mega bill, the One Big Beautiful Bill.
The House now has 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats after Green's resignation.
“It’s with a heavy heart that I say farewell. To my constituents across Tennessee’s 7th District—thank you. The trust you put in me is humbling. I will look back fondly on my years of serving as your voice in Washington,” he said on X.
As chairman of the Homeland Security Committee since 2023, Green helped advance President Trump's immigration agenda.
He led the impeachment of Joe Biden's Homeland Security Secretary, Alejandro Mayorkas, and shaped the House Republicans' policy response to Biden's border crisis, H.R. 2.
Green planned to retire sooner but was convinced to seek another term in 2024. He delayed his resignation to secure border funding in Trump's "Big, Beautiful Bill," which received final House approval in early July.
"Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump’s border security measures and priorities make it through Congress," Green said.
"By overseeing the border security portion of the reconciliation package, I have done that. After that, I will retire, and there will be a special election to replace me."
In September, Green was accused of having an affair by his wife, who exposed him in a group text to other lawmakers, and he filed for divorce.
An Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Green was first elected to the House in 2018. His 7th district is seen as safely red, having been won by Trump by over 20 points in November.
The congressman's resignation kicks off a special election to fill the remainder of his term, and GOP candidates are already lining up for the job.
New York Republican Rep. Andrew Garbarino has been chosen to replace Green as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee. Garbarino beat out three other contenders for the role, which is central to immigration policy.
Green is heading into the private sector to pursue a new business opportunity. He has provided no details on the venture, although he says it would play a role in keeping America competitive against China.
