In a significant development, CBS News CEO Wendy McMahon announced her resignation on May 19, 2025, intensifying the current challenges at the network. This follows revelations regarding parent company Paramount’s increased editorial oversight.
McMahon’s exit occurs shortly after “60 Minutes” executive producer Bill Owens stepped down on April 22, citing an inability to maintain editorial independence. McMahon’s resignation memo to staff highlighted ongoing tensions within the company.
“It’s become clear that the company and I do not agree on the path forward,” McMahon stated, noting that while leading CBS News was significant, recent months were challenging.
This leadership change follows Scott Pelley’s on-air announcement during the April 28 “60 Minutes” broadcast that Paramount had started implementing oversight measures. Pelley informed viewers that this supervision aligned with the company’s merger efforts with Skydance Media, needing approval from President Donald Trump’s administration.
Sources familiar with the situation indicate that Shari Redstone, Paramount Global’s controlling shareholder, raised concerns about CBS News coverage, leading to additional supervision, including former CBS News President Susan Zirinsky reviewing “60 Minutes” segments before airing.
CBS News staffers reportedly felt unsettled by the sudden leadership changes. A CBS insider told Fox News Digital that McMahon participated in a regular editorial call on the day of her resignation with no indication of her impending exit.
Industry analysts suggest the resignation may relate to ongoing negotiations between Paramount Global and President Trump, who filed a $20 billion lawsuit against CBS last October. The lawsuit alleges election interference in a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris during the 2024 campaign.
The suit focuses on CBS’s decision to air different versions of Harris’ response to a question on the Israel-Gaza conflict on “60 Minutes” and “Face the Nation.” Trump’s legal team argues this was deliberately misleading, while CBS defends it as a valid journalistic decision.
Legal experts note Trump’s case faces hurdles under First Amendment protections. However, reports suggest settlement talks between Paramount and Trump’s representatives have started, with speculation that the company seeks resolution before federal regulators decide on the Skydance merger.
Both McMahon and Owens reportedly opposed settling with Trump. In his resignation letter, Owens emphasized “60 Minutes” acted properly and refused to apologize.
During the April 28 broadcast, Pelley described Owens’ departure as a principled stand, telling viewers while Paramount had not blocked any stories, Owens felt he lost the independence vital for honest journalism.
Despite internal upheaval, “60 Minutes” continues airing investigative reports on the Trump administration. The program recently featured Sharyn Alfonsi investigating reductions at the National Institutes of Health, although a segment on IRS cutbacks was pulled from the May 19 broadcast following the agency’s decision to recall about 7,000 probationary employees.
George Cheeks, co-CEO of Paramount and CBS network head, announced CBS News president Tom Cibrowski and CBS Stations president Jennifer Mitchell will report directly to him following McMahon’s departure.
The network is also establishing a new anchor team for “CBS Evening News,” with John Dickerson and Maurice DuBois taking over amid ongoing ratings challenges.
This situation represents a continuing conflict between major media organizations and the Trump administration, which has engaged in disputes with various outlets since returning to power in January 2025. In December 2024, Walt Disney Co. settled a Trump libel lawsuit against ABC News for $15 million regarding statements by George Stephanopoulos about a sexual assault case involving the president.
