CBS News Terminates Scott Pelley Amid Turmoil at "60 Minutes"

Veteran correspondent fired after confronting new leadership, as shakeup reshapes the iconic newsmagazine

CBS News has terminated veteran correspondent Scott Pelley from its newsmagazine "60 Minutes" following a confrontation with new leadership, marking the latest in a series of significant staffing changes at the program. The shakeup, which began with the removal of senior producers and correspondents, has prompted internal debate regarding the show's editorial direction, management practices, and future relationship with its parent company.

Termination of Scott Pelley

Incident and Immediate Aftermath

On Monday, February 16, 2025, "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley criticized newly appointed executive producer Nick Bilton and CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss during a staff meeting. Multiple sources reported that Pelley questioned Bilton's qualifications, describing them as "slender," and accused Weiss of "murdering" the program, stating she was brought in to dismantle it. The meeting was held to introduce Bilton to the staff.

On Tuesday, February 17, 2025, CBS News terminated Pelley's contract. Bilton informed Pelley of the decision in a letter, citing "performative display of hostility" and "remarkable incivility and contempt." The letter stated that Pelley had "hijacked" the meeting to disparage Bilton and had demonstrated "antipathy to the future of the show." Pelley's termination was effective immediately and described as "for cause."

Pelley's Account and Allegations

In subsequent interviews, Pelley provided his version of events. He stated he did not anticipate being fired and described the staff meeting as consistent with a culture of passionate debate. Pelley alleged that CBS News president Tom Cibrowski initially accused him of physically abusing Bilton—an accusation Pelley denied and which was retracted. Pelley stated he was informed of his termination via email after a four-hour wait.

Pelley accused management of instructing him to "inject falsehoods and bias into a politically sensitive story." He specifically cited a February 2025 report on a shooting in Minneapolis, alleging that Weiss requested edits to make protesters appear more violent and to frame a victim's car as driving toward a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Pelley stated that video evidence did not support this framing. He said he refused to follow these instructions and received no immediate backlash. Pelley also alleged that politicians were being allowed to choose correspondents for interviews.

A CBS News spokesperson denied the allegations of political interference, stating that Weiss's suggestions were made with "no political motivation" and were "proposed solely to make the piece as strong, fair, and accurate as possible." The spokesperson added that not all suggestions were included in the final version.

Reactions to the Firing

Following Pelley's statement, Sharyn Alfonsi, a former correspondent who was among those let go, commented on social media that Pelley "was fired for asking questions, which is the job."

Other journalists and former colleagues also commented:

• Tony Dokoupil, anchor of "CBS Evening News," paid tribute to Pelley during a broadcast, describing him as a journalist who valued truth and maintained high standards.
• Steve Kroft, former "60 Minutes" correspondent, described the program's direction under Weiss as "disastrous" and called the changes "journalistic interference."
• Bill Owens, former executive producer of "60 Minutes," supported Pelley's actions, calling Weiss a "fraud."
• FCC Chair Brendan Carr posted on social media criticizing Pelley's behavior.

Pelley subsequently signed with talent agency CAA for representation.

Broader Staff Changes at "60 Minutes"

Departures and Appointments

Prior to Pelley's termination, CBS News had made several personnel changes:

Statements from Departing Staff

"The wall between editorial independence and corporate interest at CBS is being methodically torn down." — Sharyn Alfonsi

Sharyn Alfonsi stated that her contract was not renewed as a "deliberate choice to penalize a journalist for refusing to sanitize factually accurate reporting." She described management's decision to pull a segment on deportations to El Salvador as political, aimed at maintaining favor with President Trump.

Cecilia Vega claimed that teams experienced efforts to insert political bias into stories and expressed concerns about censorship. A CBS News spokesperson responded: "We respect Ms. Vega and her contributions, but her claims are not based in reality."

Remaining Correspondents

CBS News confirmed that correspondents Lesley Stahl, Bill Whitaker, and Jon Wertheim will remain with the program for the upcoming season. In a joint statement, they said they were "deeply upset" by the firings of Simon and Mihailovich, whom they described as leaders who "fought for our '60 Minutes' values and stood up to protect our independence and integrity." They added: "Newsrooms are not supposed to be run like dictatorships." They stated that their decision to stay should not be interpreted as an endorsement of management but expressed a desire to "stay and fight, try to repair and preserve our reputation."

Nick Bilton issued a memo stating: "We will always make the story the North Star — not relationships nor politics nor anything else." He promoted Maria Gavrilovic to Senior Producer and stated that the show's three-segment format would be retained while expanding content to digital platforms.

Broader Context

Ownership and Leadership Changes

CBS News has undergone significant organizational changes following the acquisition of Paramount by Skydance Media, led by CEO David Ellison, in 2025. Ellison appointed Bari Weiss, co-founder of The Free Press, as editor-in-chief of CBS News in October 2024. Ellison also acquired The Free Press for $150 million.

Weiss, a former opinion writer for The New York Times, has no prior experience in television or managing a large-scale journalism operation. She has emphasized a shift toward digital platforms and a focus on reaching younger audiences.

Legal and Regulatory Context

In July 2024, CBS parent company Paramount settled a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump over a "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris. The settlement was for $16 million, and CBS did not admit wrongdoing. The settlement occurred as Paramount sought to complete its sale to Skydance.

Paramount is currently pursuing regulatory approval for an $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, which owns CNN. As part of the Paramount deal, Kenneth Weinstein, a Trump adviser, was appointed as ombudsman for CBS News to address complaints of ideological bias.

Other Changes at CBS News

• CBS Evening News: Tony Dokoupil was appointed anchor. Dokoupil stated that the press has "missed the story" by prioritizing "elites" over "the average American." The program has initiated buyouts for non-union positions and removed the "Eye On America" segment.
• CBS News Radio: The network announced the closure of its 99-year-old radio service, effective May 22, citing economic challenges and a shift to digital platforms. The closure impacts approximately 700 affiliate stations and is part of a 6% workforce reduction at the news division.
• Relocation: "60 Minutes" is scheduled to move from its West 57th Street offices to the CBS Broadcast Center in Midtown Manhattan in 2027.

Financial and Ratings Context

"60 Minutes" generated $206.3 million in advertising in 2024 — the highest-rated news program on television.

The program draws approximately 10 million weekly viewers, with ratings increasing 9% year-over-year during the previous season. By contrast, "CBS Mornings" and "CBS Evening News" have experienced viewership declines under the current leadership.