Rep. Mark Green, the head of the House Homeland Security Committee, announced his retirement from Congress Wednesday, becoming the fourth Republican committee leader to forgo seeking re-election in 2024.
The Tennessee Republican will join House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairwoman Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), House Financial Services Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Kay Granger (R-Texas) in retirement.
Green’s seat in Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District is not considered to be at risk of flipping blue in November, with the nonpartisan Cook Political Report rating it “solid Republican.”
His retirement announcement follows a months-long investigation of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas handled by his committee over allegations that the Biden administration failed to enforce federal immigration laws and lied to Congress, leading to the crisis on the US-Mexico border.
Green’s committee voted to approve two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas last month following a 15-hour-long effort by Democrats to stall the impeachment.
Mayorkas was formally impeached by the House of Representatives on Tuesday, with Green voting in support of the effort.
The successful impeachment vote, which was preceded by a failed attempt before the full House earlier this month, played a role in Green’s decision, the 59-year-old lawmaker said in a statement.
“At the start of the 118th Congress, I promised my constituents to pass legislation to secure our borders and to hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable,” Green said. “Today, with the House having passed H.R. 2 and Secretary Mayorkas impeached, it is time for me to return home.”
“Our country — and our Congress — is broken beyond most means of repair. I have come to realize our fight is not here within Washington, our fight is with Washington. As I have done my entire life, I will continue serving this country — but in a new capacity,” he added.
Green has served in his House seat since 2019. He previously served as an Army surgeon and in the Tennessee state Senate.