Bill Owens, the executive producer of CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” abruptly resigned on Tuesday, April 22, citing concerns over journalistic independence as CBS’ parent company, Paramount Global, faces a lawsuit from President Donald Trump. The surprise departure marks a significant shift for the iconic news program, which has been under increasing pressure amid legal challenges and corporate tensions.
In a memo obtained by The Post, Owens explained his decision to step down: “Over the past months, it has become clear that I would not be allowed to run the show as I have always run it, to make independent decisions based on what was right for ’60 Minutes,’ right for the audience.”
Owens, 57, will continue working through the current season of “60 Minutes,” which concludes on May 18. CBS News president Wendy McMahon announced that Tanya Simon, executive editor and daughter of the late “60 Minutes” correspondent Bill Simon, will take over on an interim basis after Owens’ departure.
The resignation comes as Paramount Global is reportedly engaged in settlement talks regarding a $20 billion lawsuit filed by President Trump. The lawsuit alleges “unlawful and illegal behavior” related to what Trump claims was deceptive editing of a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris last October during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Inside CBS, sources indicate that veteran correspondent Lesley Stahl, who has been with “60 Minutes” since 1991, might also be considering retirement. Stahl, 83, had previously drawn criticism from Trump after a 2020 interview in which she questioned the verifiability of the Hunter Biden laptop story. Trump has repeatedly called for Stahl and the program to issue an apology, requests that have gone unaddressed by the network.
A CBS insider characterized the mood within the network as fearful. “People are terrified and the fact that Bill Owens is out means nobody is safe,” the source said, suggesting that Owens may have “jumped before he was fired.”
The situation has been further complicated by Paramount’s pending $8 billion merger with Skydance Media. Shari Redstone, whose family controls Paramount and stands to receive approximately $1.75 billion from the merger, reportedly pressed for Owens’ removal following a January report on the Gaza War that she considered one-sided.
Another CBS insider viewed the development as politically motivated, stating that President Trump had effectively “got his head” in a campaign of “settling scores” against perceived media enemies.
The turmoil extends beyond Owens’ personal situation. Earlier this month, Brendan Carr, chair of the Federal Communications Commission, pledged to expedite an investigation into CBS over allegations of political bias. Last month, Carr rejected CBS’s attempt to dismiss a complaint against the network. The FCC investigation follows a complaint filed by a conservative nonprofit group, the Center for American Rights.
Critics within CBS have questioned Owens’ leadership in recent years. One insider claimed he had “run into the ground” the “CBS Evening News,” which Owens also oversaw. The program relaunched in January with co-hosts Jeff Dickerson and Maurice DuBois, initially attracting 5.2 million viewers but recently declining to approximately 3.7 million.
The same source argued that “60 Minutes” had shifted away from its investigative roots established by legendary correspondent Mike Wallace, instead becoming “headquarters of book and movie launches” and a “mouthpiece” for left-leaning viewpoints. “Every allegation of bias only tilts one way and it’s always in the favor of the Democrats,” the insider added.
On April 13, President Trump criticized CBS on social media, writing: “CBS is out of control, at levels never seen before, and they should pay a big price for this.”
Owens began his career at CBS as a summer intern in 1988 and became executive producer of “60 Minutes” in 2019, only the third person to lead the program in its 57-year history. In his farewell message to staff, he maintained that the show must continue its mission of holding power accountable.
“’60 Minutes’ will continue to cover the new administration, as we will report on future administrations,” Owens wrote. “The show is too important to the country. It has to continue, just not with me as the executive producer.”
McMahon commended Owens for his contributions to CBS News, stating that supporting his principles was an easy decision for her and that she deeply valued his reciprocal support. She highlighted the network’s continued dedication to the program’s journalistic integrity.
The controversy occurs against a backdrop of broader tensions between news organizations and the Trump administration. Free speech advocates have expressed concern about the precedent set by the FCC’s investigation, warning that government intervention in editorial decisions threatens journalistic independence regardless of political affiliation.
