The United States Holocaust Memorial Council was established by Congress in 1980 to lead the nation in commemorating the Holocaust and to raise private funds for and build the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Once the Museum opened in 1993, the Council became the governing board of trustees of the Museum, an independent establishment of the United States government operating as a public-private partnership that receives some federal funding to support operations of the Museum building.
The Council, which meets twice a year, consists of 55 members appointed by the president, as well as five members each from the Senate and House of Representatives and three ex-officio members from the Departments of Education, Interior, and State. Presidential appointments serve for a five-year term. Council members serve at the pleasure of the president or until their terms expire.
Because of the large size of the Council, its work is done primarily through the committee structure. The Executive Committee, which acts on behalf of the Council in between Council meetings, meets four times a year.
United States Holocaust Memorial Council
As of March 11, 2026
Presidential Appointees
Jeffrey Miller, Chair, Florida Allan M. Holt, Vice Chair, District of Columbia
Kevin Abel, Georgia Ariel Abergel, New Jersey Michael S. Beals, Delaware Tom A. Bernstein, New York Jonathan W. Burkan, New York Mandana Dayani, California Theodore E. Deutch, Florida Stuart E. Eizenstat, Maryland Barbara S. Feingold, Florida Paul R. Fine, Delaware Sigalit Flicker, Florida Abraham H. Foxman, New Jersey Meryl Frank, New Jersey Robert Garson, Florida Andrew H. Giuliani, Virginia Michael S. Glassner, New Jersey Edward Glazer, Florida Judith Gold, Illinois Alexander P. Heckler, Florida Danielle Borrin Hertz, New York Daniel Huff, Massachusetts Marsha Z. Laufer, Florida Sam Lauter, California Jonathan S. Lavine, Massachusetts Tila Falic Levi, Florida Susan G. Levine, Arizona Pinchos Lipschutz, New Jersey Lee Lipton, Florida Susan E. Lowenberg, California Nicholas F. Luna, Florida Frederick R. Marcus, Georgia Martin Oliner, New York Jeffrey Peck, Maryland Elizabeth Pipko, Florida Leah Pisar, New York Jimmy Resnick, Florida Sid Rosenberg, New York Judith Schocken, Washington Betty Pantirer Schwartz, New Jersey Matthew Segal, California Chaim Nate Segal, New York Irvin Shapell, District of Columbia Mark A. Siegel, Delaware Cindy Simon Skjodt, Indiana Harry Evans Sloan, California Susan K. Stern, New York Howard D. Unger, New York Mitchell Webber, Maryland Mark Wilf, Livingston, New Jersey Alex Witkoff, Florida Jackie Schutz Zeckman, Florida Mary Menell Zients, District of Columbia Gary P. Zola, Ohio
US House of Representatives Appointees
Don Bacon, Nebraska Lois Frankel, Florida David Kustoff, Tennessee Max L. Miller, Ohio Brad Schneider, Illinois
US Senate Appointees
Bernie Moreno, Ohio Jacky Rosen, Nevada Bernard Sanders, Vermont Rick Scott, Florida Tim Scott, South Carolina
Ex Officio Appointees
US Department of Education: Philip H. Rosenfelt US Department of Interior: Vacant US Department of State: Ellen Germain
Sara J. Bloomfield, Director Gerard Leval, General Counsel Jessica Viggiano, Secretary of the Council
Former Chairs
Stuart E. Eizenstat 2022–2026 Howard M. Lorber 2017–2022 Tom A. Bernstein 2010–2017 Fred S. Zeidman 2002–2010 Irving Greenberg 2000–2002 Miles Lerman+ 1993–2000 Harvey M. Meyerhoff+ 1987–1993 Elie Wiesel+ 1980–1986
Former Vice Chairs
Joshua B. Bolten 2010–2015 Joel M. Geiderman 2005–2010 Ruth B. Mandel+ 1993–2005 William J. Lowenberg+ 1986–1993 Mark E. Talisman+ 1980–1986
+ Deceased
This Section
Resources and tips to assist you before, during, and after your visit to the Museum