Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.), the chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, has announced his retirement.
The decision makes Green the fourth Republican committee chair to forgo reelection in the House. (RELATED: Trump's 2016 Rival Announces 2024 Endorsement)
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 announcement came less than 48 hours after the House narrowly voted to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over claims he refused to enforce border laws and dodged congressional oversight.
The vote makes Mayorkas only the second Cabinet secretary in U.S. history to be impeached, the first being William Belknap in 1876.
Green's committee previously voted to approved two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas despite a 15-hour delay by Democrats.
The Senate is expected to reject the articles of impeachment.
In a statement announcing his retirement, Green praised the House Republican Conference for their stance on border security. (RELATED: Texas Cops Given Expanded Authority To Arrest Illegal Immigrants)
“At the start of the 118th Congress, I promised my constituents to pass legislation to secure our borders and to hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable,” the 59-year-old lawmaker 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,” he added. “As I have done my entire life, I will continue serving this country – but in a new capacity.”
A retired Army flight surgeon, Green previously served in the Tennessee General Assembly as a state senator.
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