PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: Congressman Mark Green (R-TN) announced his retirement after the House votes on a major tax and budget bill.
👥 Who’s Involved: Mark Green, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and President Donald J. Trump.
📍 Where & When: U.S. Congress; announcement made Monday, timing of departure tied to legislative schedule.
💬 Key Quote: “It was the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Tennessee in Congress,” Green stated.
⚠️ Impact: Green’s delayed retirement ensures Republican support for the Trump-backed tax legislation in the House, where the GOP holds a slim majority.
IN FULL:
Congressman Mark Green (R-TN), who chairs the U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security, announced late Monday that he plans to retire from Congress after a final vote on President Donald J. Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” The Tennessee Republican revealed that he accepted a private sector opportunity, describing it as “too exciting to pass up.” He informed House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) of his decision earlier in the day.
His announcement follows a previous decision in 2022 not to seek re-election in 2024. However, Green reversed course after Republican colleagues urged him to remain in office. His next election would have been in 2026.
The timing of Green’s departure is significant, as Republicans maintain a narrow 220-212 majority in the House. His presence ensures an additional GOP vote for the budget reconciliation bill, which narrowly passed the House by a single vote in May and enacts a bulk of President Trump’s policy agenda. The legislation, now under consideration in the Senate, will return to the House for approval of any amendments before heading to President Trump’s desk.
“It was the honor of a lifetime to represent the people of Tennessee in Congress,” Green said in a statement, adding: “They asked me to deliver on the conservative values and principles we all hold dear, and I did my level best to do so.”
Green’s seat will be filled through a special election, the timing of which will depend on his departure date.