CBS News fired anchor Scott Pelley from his role on "60 Minutes" following an alleged dispute with editor-in-chief Bari Weiss [1].

The dismissal of Pelley marks a significant shakeup at one of the most prestigious programs in U.S. journalism, removing a fixture of the network's reporting team.

Pelley had been with "60 Minutes" for more than 30 years [3]. The firing followed a public confrontation between Pelley and network management, which Weiss said was a breach of professional trust [1].

During an all-hands staff call held Wednesday morning, June 3, 2026 [2], Weiss said the decision to fire the anchor. She said Pelley had "broken the trust in the newsroom" [1] and referred to the outcome as the "path that he chose" [2].

Reports on the final decision-making process vary. The New York Times reported that Weiss, as editor-in-chief, said the network had no choice but to fire Pelley [1]. However, other reports suggest the decision was coordinated with Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison [2].

External commentators reacted to the move on Wednesday. Fox News analyst Brit Hume said "the boss is still the boss" [4] when discussing the network's decision to remove the veteran journalist.

The firing occurred at the CBS News headquarters in New York City [2]. The network has not provided further details regarding the specific nature of the dispute that led to the termination of Pelley's long tenure [1].

“He has broken the trust in the newsroom.”

The removal of a 30-year veteran like Scott Pelley suggests a pivot in leadership style and culture under Bari Weiss. By prioritizing newsroom cohesion and management authority over the tenure of a star anchor, CBS News is signaling a shift toward a more centralized command structure, potentially risking internal friction to establish new editorial standards.