A sitting U.S. Senator has collected a paycheck for nearly two decades while skipping every single meeting of one of America’s most sacred institutions—and now his colleagues want him gone. The Phantom Board Member Senator Bernie Sanders has achieved something remarkable during his tenure on the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum’s governing board since 2007: perfect attendance in reverse. Official museum records reveal Sanders has missed every single meeting during his 18-year appointment, despite the council convening just twice annually. This extraordinary absence record has prompted approximately a dozen board members to demand Senate leadership replace the Vermont independent. The timing of this revelation coincides with Sanders’ September 2025 statement accusing Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, where he declared the intent was clear and the conclusion inescapable. Board members now argue his public positions directly contradict the museum’s educational mission while his ghost-like presence mocks the institution’s gravity. Sen Bernie Sanders has served on the US Holocaust Memorial Museum's board for 18 years, but hasn't attended a single meeting- inspiring another bipartisan push to oust him. Sanders was appointed in 2007 to the Holocaust Memorial Council, and has not bothered himself to walk… pic.twitter.com/5Rnt16w55E — Robbie Mouton (@mcgmouton57) January 20, 2026 Bipartisan Frustration Erupts The removal effort represents a rare moment of unity between Trump and Biden appointees on the 55-member Holocaust Memorial Council. Alex Heckler, a Biden appointee and Democratic activist, stated Sanders’ beliefs and public statements do not reflect the museum’s mission, emphasizing this constitutes common sense rather than partisan politics. His assessment carries weight given other Democratic appointees, including former Biden selections Susan Rice and Doug Emhoff, attended meetings as recently as last year. Trump appointee Jimmy Resnick captured the frustration bluntly, questioning why Sanders occupies a seat someone else would actually use. The sentiment reflects broader board member bewilderment at Sanders’ complete disengagement from an institution located just two miles from his workplace in the U.S. Capitol. Holocaust Memory Under Siege Board members frame Sanders’ removal as urgent given rising global antisemitism and Holocaust distortion campaigns. Jonathan Burkan, a Trump appointee serving dual terms, argues Jewish elected officials should attend at least one meeting during a two-decade tenure, particularly after October 7th events intensified antisemitic incidents worldwide. Museum Chairman Stuart Eizenstat has disputed genocide characterizations targeting Israel, maintaining such extreme language fuels violent antisemitism. Daniel Huff, another Trump appointee supporting removal, emphasized the museum’s careful stewardship of genocide terminology to preserve Holocaust memory. Sanders’ public embrace of genocide accusations against Israel directly undermines this institutional responsibility, creating an untenable contradiction between board member advocacy and museum mission. Senate Leadership Faces Precedent Decision The removal letter now sits before Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who must decide whether to initiate replacement proceedings. This decision carries implications beyond Sanders’ case, as other Senate appointees including Jacky Rosen and Tim Scott also maintain poor attendance records. Schumer’s choice will establish whether non-participation consequences extend beyond public embarrassment to actual removal. The broader context reveals institutional governance questions about congressional appointees to federal boards. Sanders’ case demonstrates how symbolic appointments can become problematic when appointees treat prestigious positions as resume decorations rather than meaningful responsibilities requiring engagement and alignment with institutional missions. Sources: The Yeshiva World – Fraud: Bernie Sanders Has Missed Every Holocaust Museum Board Meeting For 18 Years Jerusalem Post – Holocaust Museum Board Member Bernie Sanders Reportedly Hasn’t Shown Up to Meeting in Almost 2 Decades WABC Radio – Bernie Sanders Skipped Every Holocaust Museum Board Meeting Israel Hayom – Trump Appointees Push to Remove Sanders From Holocaust Museum AOL – Bernie Sanders Skipped Every Meeting in 18 Years on Holocaust Museum Board VIN News – Report: Sanders Missed All Holocaust Museum Board Meetings Over 18 Years