CBS News Faces Firestorm As Major 60 Minutes Departures Under Bari Weiss Raise Alarms
CBS News is facing one of its most dramatic periods of turmoil in years as a wave of high-profile departures from 60 Minutes continues to raise questions about the future of the iconic news program.
According to PEOPLE and multiple media reports, the upheaval has unfolded under the new leadership of Bari Weiss, whose arrival at CBS News has been followed by major firings, resignations and public criticism from some of the networkâs most recognizable journalists. For longtime viewers, the changes have made one thing clear: 60 Minutes is no longer simply going through a transition. It is at the center of a full-blown media firestorm.
The list of exits is striking. Former executive producer Bill Owens resigned in 2025 after warning that he could no longer run 60 Minutes with the same editorial independence he believed the program required. Owens had previously defended the showâs commitment to serious, nonpartisan journalism, arguing that its strength came from consistency, rigor and trust â not from chasing trends or clickbait.
After Owens left, more major changes followed. Tanya Simon, who became the first woman to lead 60 Minutes, was reportedly removed. Sharyn Alfonsi and Cecilia Vega were also pushed out or allowed to leave after clashes and concerns involving the programâs editorial direction. Alfonsi, in particular, publicly criticized CBSâs handling of a report about a controversial El Salvador prison, calling the decision to pull the story political rather than editorial.
Then came the firing of Scott Pelley, one of the most respected figures in broadcast journalism. Pelley reportedly clashed with new leadership after a round of severe staff cuts at 60 Minutes. His dismissal quickly became one of the most talked-about moments in the crisis, especially after he publicly raised concerns about editorial interference and the future of the broadcast.
The departures have alarmed many inside and outside CBS because 60 Minutes is not just another television show. Since its launch in 1968, it has built a reputation for hard-hitting investigations, tough interviews and stories that hold powerful people accountable. That legacy is why the current turmoil feels so personal to viewers who have trusted the program for decades.
Supporters of the shake-up argue that CBS News is trying to modernize for a changing media environment. Traditional television audiences are shrinking, streaming habits are reshaping news consumption and networks are under pressure to reach younger viewers. New leadership has suggested that 60 Minutes must evolve to survive.
But critics worry that modernization may come at the cost of the programâs soul. Former insiders have warned that removing experienced journalists and producers could weaken the editorial independence that made 60 Minutes powerful in the first place. Steve Kroft, another legendary former correspondent, called the changes âdisastrousâ and said they made âno business sense whatsoever.â
The controversy has also become politically charged. CBS and Paramount have faced scrutiny over lawsuits, corporate decisions and alleged pressure connected to sensitive political coverage. Pelley and others have accused new leadership of trying to reshape stories in ways they believed favored a political narrative, while CBS has defended its editorial process as an effort to ensure fairness and accuracy.
For longtime viewers, the concern is simple: can 60 Minutes change without losing what made it trusted?
The answer remains unclear. But as more major names leave and more criticism surfaces, the crisis at CBS News has become larger than one firing or one executive decision. It has become a test of whether one of Americaâs most respected journalism institutions can survive a new era without surrendering the values that built its reputation.
