U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council Demands Senate Remove Bernie Sanders Over Decades of Absenteeism and Controversial Remarks

By Theodore Bunker | Monday, 19 January 2026 01:57 PM EST

The board governing the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has urged Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to remove Senator Bernie Sanders from its council, accusing him of nearly two decades of absenteeism and statements inconsistent with the institution’s mission.

In an open letter dated January 13 signed by 12 council members, the signers stated that Sanders has “rarely, if ever, attended Council meetings or participated meaningfully in the work of the Council since his appointment” in 2007. They also cited his public comments on contemporary conflicts as being “widely viewed as inconsistent with the principles of Holocaust remembrance and genocide prevention that the Museum exists to uphold.”

Robert Garson, a council member who spoke in a personal capacity, remarked: “There are two large meetings every year where people fly in from all over the country for it. But Bernie Sanders couldn’t be bothered to walk across the road in D.C.”

Jonathan Burkan, another council member, added: “Eighteen is a good number in Judaism, but not in this case.”

The United States Holocaust Memorial Council serves as the museum’s board of trustees and has overall governance responsibility for the museum, including policy guidance, strategic direction, and oversight of operations. The council includes presidential appointees as well as members appointed by congressional leadership.

In their letter, the signers argued that the council’s statutory mission requires active participation and alignment with its purposes, pointing to a rise in antisemitism and what they described as increasing Holocaust distortion. They requested Schumer to “consider initiating the process for removal and/or replacement of Senator Sanders” as one of the Senate’s appointees.

Museum attendance records confirm Sanders has missed every council meeting since his appointment. The council typically holds two large meetings annually.

Sanders’ office did not respond to a request for comment.

The dispute emerged amid heightened political scrutiny of the museum’s governing body. In April, President Donald Trump removed several Biden-era appointees from the council, including former second gentleman Doug Emhoff, prompting criticism that Holocaust remembrance should remain nonpartisan. Days later, the museum issued a statement welcoming Trump’s new appointments.

The council’s leadership and membership have drawn increased attention as the museum faces growing demand for Holocaust education and intensifying public debates over the use of Holocaust analogies in modern conflicts.

In their letter, the signers framed their request as an effort to ensure Senate-appointed representatives are “fully engaged and steadfastly supportive” of the museum’s mission.