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CBS News removes veteran anchor Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes
CBS News terminated longtime 60 Minutes anchor Scott Pelley on Tuesday, deepening a leadership upheaval at the network's flagship news program. The move follows the recent appointment of Bari Weiss as CBS News chief and Nick Bilton as the show's editor.
Leadership shakeup sparks backlash
Weiss, installed in October 2025 by Paramount owner David Ellison, has overseen sweeping changes, including layoffs affecting over 6% of CBS News staff and the closure of its radio division. Last week, she dismissed 60 Minutes executive producer Tanya Simon and correspondents Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega, replacing them with Bilton, a former New York Times columnist with no broadcast journalism experience.
Critics argue the changes threaten the program's editorial independence. At a staff meeting Monday, Pelley accused Weiss of "murdering 60 Minutes," according to U.S. media reports. Bilton, in a termination letter, called Pelley uncooperative and cited his "remarkable incivility" during the meeting.
Pelley and Bilton clash over program's future
In a statement following his firing, Pelley alleged CBS News had grown more politicized, pressuring him to "inject falsehoods and bias" into his reporting. He claimed management demanded the inclusion of unverified assertions and described the new leadership as "incompetent and unprofessional."
"I've been told to include assertions that are unverified."
Scott Pelley, former 60 Minutes anchor
Bilton countered in his termination letter that Pelley used the staff meeting to publicly disparage him, his qualifications, and his vision for the show. In a separate memo to staff, Bilton said he attempted to engage Pelley in dialogue but found no common ground, writing, "That was not the path Scott chose."
Broader changes at CBS News
The upheaval began after Ellison, a Trump ally, acquired Paramount in August 2025. Weiss, appointed editor-in-chief in October, has criticized CBS News for over-reliance on broadcast television and failing to adapt to digital audiences. In January, she told staff the network was not producing content people wanted and that trust in mainstream media had eroded.
Recent Nielsen ratings show 60 Minutes viewership rose 9% this season, but Bilton warned the gains may not be sustainable. "History tells you disruption doesn't happen immediately when new technology comes along-it's usually a few years later," he told CNBC. "We're on the precipice of this happening to broadcast TV."
Departing correspondents raise alarm
Vega, one of the correspondents fired last week, accused executives of attempting to "insert political bias" into stories, calling it "dangerous for the show and dangerous for democracy." In a statement, she wrote, "Today, I lost an amazing job. But I still have my integrity."
Pelley, who joined CBS News 37 years ago and served as 60 Minutes anchor and managing editor, expressed gratitude in his farewell statement. Bilton, meanwhile, emphasized the need to modernize the program while acknowledging its current success.
