GOP Rep. Mark Green, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, has announced his retirement from Congress to pursue an exciting opportunity in the private sector. Green’s decision comes after the House plans to revisit President Donald Trump’s comprehensive domestic policy package. The Tennessee Republican stated that he will resign immediately after the House votes again on the reconciliation package, leaving in the middle of the 119th Congress instead of completing his term, which was set to end after the 2026 midterm elections.

A former Tennessee state senator and emergency physician, Green was elected to Congress in 2018 and became chairman of the Homeland Security panel in 2023. Notable for leading House Republicans in the impeachment of former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Green is also a retired Army flight surgeon who played a role in capturing Saddam Hussein and interrogated him post-capture. In 2017, he was nominated by Trump for Army secretary but withdrew following controversy over past statements on LGBT issues, Islam, and evolution.

Green confirmed that a special election will be held to fill his seat in Congress, signaling a transition in leadership for his constituency. His career trajectory, from military service to politics, underscores his multifaceted background and experience. Green’s departure marks the end of an era in his congressional tenure, leaving a vacant seat that will be filled through a democratic process.