Representative Mark Green (R-TN-07) announced his official retirement from Congress on Friday.
In his retirement video, he stated that he would be stepping down as the representative of Tennessee’s 7th Congressional District and as chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security.
Green, who had been the chairman since 2023, said there was “no higher honor” than serving in Congress.
The representative stated Tennessee will always be his home. He added that he will always be appreciative of the support he received from Tennesseans.
Green thanked his family, whom he said endured the “stress and difficulty of this job.”
Discussing the 7th Congressional District, Green called it a “diverse and beautiful district.”
“To my constituents, thank you. The trust you put in me is humbling. I will look back fondly on my years of serving as your voice in Washington.” Green said.
“It has been the honor of my lifetime to fight for the land of the free at home and abroad. I will continuously do so. But now, in a different capacity,” he added.
Green said he was leaving Congress to enter the private sector to start his own company. In the video, Green stated he could not disclose the details publicly.
However, he said his company will do something that helps America “compete against the Chinese Communist Party.”
For this congressional session, the representative said his goal was “to fight for Tennesseans and to reverse” the previous administration’s “border disaster.” He said the border security aspects in the Congress-passed “One Big Beautiful Act” are “the strongest” in American history.
“I am proud of the progress made,” he stated.
The representative said, since the beginning of his House tenure, that he wanted to “start with veterans and end with veterans.”
According to Green, the first bill he introduced in Congress in 2019 was the Protecting Gold Star Spouses Act. He stated he brought forth this bill “to make sure no spouse or family of a fallen hero would lose access to critical resources.”
This act, which ensures Gold Star families keep receiving payments even in a government shutdown, did not pass. Green introduced this bill again in April.
He also explained one of his final acts was introducing the K2 Veterans Total Coverage Act of 2025.
The representative said this bill would help veterans “who suffered toxic exposure while serving in Camp Stronghold Freedom during the War on Terror the help they need.” He brought forth this bill in May.
In addition to his veteran work, Green highlighted his efforts to “cut red tape” for rural hospitals and medical procedures.
To end his video, Green said every American “has a duty to ensure this great experiment in liberty succeeds.”
“God bless you. God bless the incredible state of Tennessee and may God bless the United States of America,” he stated.
– – –
Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network. Email tips to Zachery at [email protected].
Photo “Mark Green” by Mark Green.
So what is the real story here? Why the sudden retirement just after being reelected? I have seen absolutely no news or even speculation about what’s actually going on …
Rep. Green vs. CCP. An Army of One.
The U. S. House of Representatives is a 435 member body with each of those members having full voting rights (i.e., there are additional territorial members of the U. S. House {e.g., such as Guam or Puerto Rico} who have only quasi-full voting rights). With Green’s resignation there are now 4 vacancies—that is, 431 members with full voting rights.
Prior to Green’s resignation, there were 220 Republicans and 212 Democrats. This meant that on any vote concerning any legislative measure, Republicans could only lose 3 Republican votes (i.e., a loss of 4 votes, that is a tie vote of 216 to 216 is a loss).
After Green’s resignation, there are 219 Republicans and 212 Democrats.
What if the Democrats win all four contests in the upcoming Special Elections in the next several months to fill the aforesaid 4 vacant seats? That would mean that the U. S. House would have 219 Republican members and the Democrats would have 216 members. In such a scenario, the Republicans could only lose 1 vote concerning any legislative measure (i.e., a loss of 2 votes would result in the Republicans having a vote 217 and the Democrats would have a vote of 218—a Democrat win).
Thus, in Green’s absence, it is possible that in the next year and a half of the current Congress, the present razor thin Republican margin of control in the U. S. House could become EVEN MORE RAZOR THIN.
What if another Republican member becomes seriously ill and absent, or worse, if a Republican member dies, or if another Republican member decides to do what Green did and quit to pursue a lucrative business opportunity? What if instead of 1 more, it becomes 2 more, or 3 more, etc.? You get the idea.
What Green has done could place in jeopardy the success of President Trump’s entire future presidency.
When will we start electing people to high public office who place the good of the country before the good of their own personal interests?
I know that I am setting a very high standard. Some might say that I am being harsh. However, we have just celebrated our National Independence Day when we honor our Founding Fathers who pledged to their fellow countrymen their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor for the creation of the United States. No, I do not think that I am being harsh. I think that my standard is JUST RIGHT for the highest elected officers of our country!
Green ran for office. He told the voters of his district that he wanted to represent them for the next two years. The voters re-elected Green. Now, when Green gets the chance to do something else, Green leaves them ‘high and dry’. Needless to say, I do not think much of what Green has just done!