(JEWISH VOICE NEWS) Sen. Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats, hasn’t attended a single meeting of the governing board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum during his nearly 18-year tenure, according to records cited by the New York Post.
Sanders was appointed in 2007 to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Council, which meets twice a year to oversee the museum’s mission, programming, and commemorations. Attendance records reviewed by fellow board members show he has failed to attend every meeting since joining, prompting some council members to push for his replacement amid rising antisemitism and renewed scrutiny of Holocaust education, the Post reported.
The Holocaust Memorial Council, created by Congress in 1980, consists of presidential appointees and members selected by congressional leadership. While attendance is not legally required, board members told the Post that nearly two decades of absence undermines the institution’s governance and its solemn mission.
Several council members have sent a letter to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer requesting that Sanders be replaced by a senator willing to actively participate. Other senators have missed meetings, but none as consistently — or completely — as Sanders, the Post noted.
Anti-Israel Positions Add to Criticism
Critics say Sanders’ long-standing public positions on Israel make his absence from the museum board even more problematic. Over the years, Sanders has been one of the most vocal U.S. lawmakers critical of the Israeli government’s actions, particularly in Gaza. In 2025, he publicly described Israel’s military operations there as “genocide” and called for an end to U.S. military support, a stance that put him at odds with many Jewish leaders.
Sanders has also opposed anti-BDS legislation on free speech grounds and repeatedly highlighted concerns about Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. While he maintains support for Israel’s right to exist and condemns Hamas as a terrorist organization, his sharp criticisms of Israeli policy have drawn sustained scrutiny from pro-Israel groups.
Board members told the Post that Sanders’ public remarks, combined with his 18 years of nonparticipation, are inconsistent with the museum’s mission to combat antisemitism and Holocaust distortion. Sanders’ office did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and Schumer’s office declined to say whether a replacement would be considered.
The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, located near the National Mall in Washington, D.C., remains one of the nation’s foremost institutions dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and educating future generations about the dangers of hatred and bigotry, according to the Post.
