House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green arrives to begin the impeachment of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas Jan. 30, 2024, at the Capitol. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
And with the House of Representatives passing Trump's megabill by a self-imposed July 4th deadline, Green shared with Fox News that his last day in Congress would be Sunday, July 20.
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He called serving Tennessee's 7th Congressional District "the honor of a lifetime."
"They asked me to deliver on the conservative values and principles we all hold dear, and I did my level best to do so. Along the way, we passed historic tax cuts, worked with President Trump to secure the border, and defended innocent life. I am extremely proud of my work as chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and want to thank my staff, both in my 7th District office, as well as the professional staff on that committee," Green said.
Green acknowledged in his statement that he had previously geared up to retire in the last Congress, but reversed course.
"Though I planned to retire at the end of the previous Congress, I stayed to ensure that President Trump’s border security measures and priorities make it through Congress," he said.
Matt Van Epps, a candidate for Tennessee's 7th Congressional District, poses with his wife and daughter. (Courtesy of Matt Van Epps' Campaign)
Green called Van Epps, a decorated Army veteran and the former commissioner of Tennessee's Department of General Services (DGS), a "true warrior."
"Matt Van Epps has my complete and total endorsement," Green shared in a statement with Fox News Digital. Green revealed that he served in the same Army special operations unit as Van Epps, which he described as "a brotherhood that cannot be replicated anywhere else."
In a statement shared first with Fox News Digital, Van Epps said he was "deeply honored" to receive Green's endorsement and "ready to put the people of the 7th District first."
"Congressman Green has left some very large shoes to fill, but I’m ready to step in and continue his work on behalf of Tennesseans," Van Epps said.
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Several Republican candidates have announced their own congressional campaigns, including Montgomery County Commissioner Jason Knight, U.S. Army veteran Jonathan Thorp, Mason Foley of Main Street Health, and state Reps. Jay Reedy, Lee Reeves and Jody Barrett.
Deirdre Heavey is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mark-green-resigns-from-congress-further-shrinking-house-gop-majority