Rep. Mark Green (R-TN) will resign from the House at the end of this month, kickstarting House Republicans’ search for a new chairman on the powerful Homeland Security Committee.

Green announced Friday, after the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed the House, that he would retire from Congress and alerted GOP leaders that it would be effective on July 20, the Washington Examiner confirmed.

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That opens the door for several House Republicans to step up for a chance to serve as the next chairman, a position Green has held since 2018.

This will be the first major chairmanship shake-up of the 119th Congress. The last major change in leadership was during the last Congress in April 2024, when Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) was selected as the Appropriations Committee chairman to succeed former Texas Rep. Kay Granger.

Former Rep. Michael Burgess succeeded Cole as chairman of the Rules Committee. Burgess, a Texas Republican, decided to retire after the 2024 election, lining up Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) to take on the powerful role.

Eyes have turned to the members of the Homeland Security Committee with the most seniority, including Reps. Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Michael Guest (R-MS).

However, McCaul told the Washington Examiner that he declined the opportunity to chair the committee, adding that it was “never his idea.”

“I was approached by Mark Green, and we talked to the speaker about being a placeholder for the remainder to avoid a contentious steering race,” McCaul said. 

McCaul previously chaired the Homeland Security Committee for six years, hitting the term limit rule Republicans have stuck to for over 30 years. If leadership opted to bypass that rule, McCaul could theoretically fill out the role for the remainder of the current term. 

Guest has served on the Homeland Security Committee since entering the House in 2019. He is the third-most senior member on the committee, behind McCaul and Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA). Guest, who is the chairman of the Ethics Committee, is also the vice chairman of the Homeland Security Committee and chairman of its Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Guest for comment. He told the Magnolia Tribune that he has “enjoyed building an expertise on the issues under the Committee’s jurisdiction” since being elected to represent Mississippi’s 3rd Congressional District.

“With Chairman Green’s announcement that he will resign from Congress soon, I intend to consult with my family, friends, and staff to determine how I can best serve Mississippi moving forward,” Guest told the local newspaper.

Higgins, who has been on the committee since 2017, could also be a contender. His selection would be a win for the House Freedom Caucus, of which he is a vocal member. But Higgins would also be a controversial pick in the eyes of Democrats, after he was the target of a censure resolution by the Congressional Black Caucus for “racist” comments he made about Haitians.

The Washington Examiner reached out to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) for comment on the schedule for selecting the new committee chairman.

Green’s retirement announcement on Friday was the second of his congressional career. In February 2024, he decided he would not seek reelection. However, after being flooded with calls from constituents and receiving pressure from Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and President Donald Trump, the Tennessee congressman decided to reverse his decision and stay in Congress.

MARK GREEN TO RETIRE FROM HOUSE EARLY AFTER SECOND RECONCILIATION VOTE

The Republican announced on June 9 that he would retire after the House passed the reconciliation bill. Green’s district is considered solid Republican, so it is all but assured to remain in GOP hands.

But Green’s early departure is a blow to Johnson, who only has a three-seat majority. While the contentious One Big Beautiful Bill Act saga is over, the speaker has said he is planning for two more reconciliation bills. Appropriations bills, or a short-term spending deal, and possible Senate-revised rescissions legislation are expected to come to the floor, as well.