Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Resignation and Its Implications

When Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns from Congress on January 5, her eligibility for full federal retirement benefits will end. However, at 51, she will have enough service time to qualify for a Deferred Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) pension starting at age 62, or she could opt for a refund of her retirement contributions instead.

Greene took office in January 2021, meaning that if she officially leaves on January 5, 2026, she will have served just over five years. Members of Congress elected after 1984 fall under FERS, which generally requires a minimum age of 62 with at least five years of service, or alternatively, 50 years old with 20 years of service for immediate pension benefits.

Since Greene will have fulfilled the five-year service requirement but not the age requirement, she will receive a deferred pension starting at age 62 unless she chooses to withdraw her contributions, thereby waiving future pension rights.

After her resignation, Greene’s options include:

• Deferred pension through FERS starting at age 62.
• Keeping her Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) balance, rolling it over, or withdrawing it.
• Receiving Social Security benefits based on her overall earnings record, which includes her Congressional earnings since 1984.

Greene, who won her seat representing Georgia’s 14th Congressional District in 2020 and was re-elected without much opposition, cited disappointment with the current political landscape, particularly due to her disagreements with the former president, as reasons for her resignation.

A special election to fill her seat is expected to take place in March, as noted by Ricky Hess, the chairman of the Paulding County Republican Party. Governor Brian Kemp will determine the date of this election, and since Greene’s resignation is effective January 5, the northwest district of Georgia will be unrepresented in Congress until a new member is elected.

The state’s midterm elections, which will draw national interest, are scheduled for May 19, 2026. It’s possible Kemp might call for a special election beforehand, or he could leave the position vacant until the primary elections begin.

According to Article I, Section 2 of the U.S. Constitution, all House vacancies must be filled through elections, meaning temporary appointments aren’t allowed, regardless of when a resignation occurs.